Warning signs on your fingers: Could it be scleroderma?

Skin changes on the fingers may be an aesthetic defect and a signal of a severe disease. Although scleroderma is a rare condition, it is worth knowing its symptoms so that treatment can commence in time. The condition most often affects women. What do the symptoms look like?

Systemic scleroderma, or scleroderma, is a chronic connective tissue disease characterised by progressive skin and internal organs fibrosis. This fibrosis results from excessive collagen production, which causes hardening and loss of tissue elasticity.

This disease can manifest in many ways, and its course varies among patients. In some cases, it progresses slowly and is limited to the skin, while in others, it quickly affects internal organs such as the lungs, heart, or kidneys. The exact cause of scleroderma is unknown, but it is believed to have an autoimmune basis, and the most likely reason for its development is a genetic defect.

The most characteristic symptom of systemic scleroderma is skin changes, which initially may resemble finger swelling. The skin becomes hard, tight, and shiny, and the fingers have a "sausage-like" appearance. Over time, the changes can spread to other body parts, such as the face, arms, or chest.

In addition to skin changes, systemic scleroderma can cause other symptoms such as joint and muscle pain, breathing problems, gastroesophageal reflux, and Raynaud's phenomenon, which is characterised by episodic whitening and bluish discolouration of the fingers due to cold or stress. This symptom appears first in patients and is often ignored.

As the disease progresses, the skin on the hands and feet undergoes significant changes, especially around the hands, elbows, feet, and up to the knees. Fingers become swollen, complex, and difficult to move due to contractures and joint restrictions. The skin loses sweat glands and hair follicles, and characteristic discolourations, called "salt and pepper," appear.

Over time, the skin begins to atrophy, forming hard-to-heal wounds and ulcers. The face also changes - the skin tightens, deep wrinkles are smoothed out, facial expressions are limited, and the nose becomes smaller. Patients often experience muscle, bone, and joint pain. Recurrent arthritis leads to stiffness and restricted mobility. Over time, swallowing problems, constipation, improper nutrient absorption, and lung disease can develop.

Systemic scleroderma is an incurable condition, but appropriate treatment can slow its progression and alleviate symptoms. Therapy is tailored individually to each patient and may include immunosuppressive drugs, vasodilators, physical therapy, symptomatic treatment, and the implementation of a special diet.