Localised Scleroderma
This causes one or more patches of hard skin. There are different types. The common plaque type doesn't usually cause any significant problems, although sometimes it can have an unsightly appearance (which could affect confidence) it does tend to fade in time. The linear type can cause problems to underlying tissues such as muscles and bones. Often no treatment is needed for the plaque type but treatment may be advised in more severe cases and for the linear type.
What is localised scleroderma
Scleroderma is a condition that causes areas of the skin to become harder than usual. Hence the name scleroderma, which means hard skin. There are two kinds of scleroderma.
Localised scleroderma can also be part of systemic sclerosis.
Symptoms of localised scleroderma?
Localised scleroderma usually comes on gradually. Areas of the skin may be thickened and discoloured, and hair loss may occur over the affected area. There are different types of localised scleroderma. The most common types are:
Plaque morphoea
These are oval patches that can range from 2-20 cm across. They start off mauve in colour, then gradually become white. Older patches may become brown. The surface is smooth, shiny and hairless. One to three plaques may develop in different areas of the skin. This type mainly affects adults and usually has no other symptoms or problems, although the affected skin can look unsightly.
Superficial morphoea
Similar to the plaque type. It is typically seen as symmetrical mauve-coloured patches, usually in skin folds of the groin, armpits or under breasts. This type is most commonly found in middle-aged women.
Linear scleroderma
Usually occurs on an arm or leg of a child. It is a long, narrow area of thickened skin. In more severe cases the tissues just beneath the skin are affected which may cause scarring (contractures) underneath the skin.
En coup de sabre
This is a deep form of linear scleroderma affecting the scalp and temple. The name comes from its shape, meaning 'like a sword cut'. Hair is lost over the affected skin, and the skull bone may be shrunk underneath it.
Generalised morphoea
This is a rare type where there are more plaques spread around different areas of the body.
Complications of localised scleroderma?
Usually, localised scleroderma does not cause any complications. But can be linked to the systemic sclerosis form of scleroderma which involves internal organs.
Some types of localised scleroderma may affect not only the skin but the tissues directly underneath it such as bone or muscle. This only happens in the deeper types of scleroderma (linear scleroderma and en coup de sabre). In this situation, the scleroderma can affect growth in the underlying tissues and so may cause some degree of deformity. About one third of people with deep localised scleroderma have this type of problem. Rarely, if the affected skin is located on the head, the brain or eye can be affected.
Causes localised scleroderma?
The cause is not clear. What is known is that cells called fibroblasts make too much of a protein called collagen. The collagen gets deposited in the skin, causing scarring and thickening (fibrosis).
It is not known why the fibroblasts produce too much collagen in the areas of affected skin. It is probably some fault with the immune system. It is sometimes seen after the development of diseases in which the immune system attacks the body's own cells (autoimmune conditions), such as lichen sclerosus and lichen planus. It can also occur after tick bites (Lyme disease), measles, radiotherapy, local injury to the skin and pregnancy. Most of the time, however, there is no obvious cause.
How common is localised scleroderma?
Localised scleroderma is uncommon. The exact number of people affected is not known. However, it is thought that quite a number of cases are not diagnosed. This is because many people who have a small plaque or two of localised scleroderma causing no symptoms may not report it to a doctor. It is two or three times more common in women than in men. It can occur at any age and is as common in children as it is in adults. About 3 in a million children in the UK and Ireland develop localised scleroderma every year. Children are nine or ten times more likely to develop localised scleroderma than systemic sclerosis.
How is localised scleroderma diagnosed?
Localised scleroderma can usually be recognised by its appearance. The diagnosis can be confirmed by a biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure in which a small sample of skin is removed under local anaesthetic and examined under the microscope. Sometimes blood tests can give a clue but there is not a specific blood test for this condition. In some cases an ultrasound scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may be used to assess whether the scleroderma is affecting tissues underneath the skin. X-rays are occasionally used to check that children's bones are growing properly. Tests for other types of scleroderma may also be needed.