Systemic Sclerosis Treatment
Scleroderma — skin & organ fibrosis — diagnosis and treatment at Arthritis Care of Texas.
This condition causes the body to make too much collagen — a protein that can thicken and tighten the skin and, in some people, affect internal organs. Treatment is tailored to the areas involved and focuses on easing symptoms and protecting organs.
There is no cure yet — the goal is control, organ by organ: softening skin where possible, protecting the lungs, heart, gut, and kidneys, and keeping blood flowing to the fingers. Success looks different for each person — stable lung tests, healed finger ulcers, manageable reflux, steady kidney numbers — and your plan is built around the organs involved in your case.
Systemic sclerosis — also known as scleroderma — is a progressive disease that causes complications with various systems of the body and nearly always the skin. Almost all patients with systemic sclerosis experience a thickening or hardening of the skin. Dermatological changes occur progressively but may eventually cause a loss of flexibility. Though some scleroderma patients never experience symptoms beyond the skin, many suffer additional complications when the disease affects internal organs, blood vessels or the digestive tract. Aside from skin hardening, the exact symptoms vary according to which areas of the body are affected.
Did you know… some people with "skin-only" scleroderma often recover on their own within 3 to 5 years? However, individuals with the type of systemic sclerosis that affects multiple internal systems usually require long-term treatment, as this version of the disease is most likely to continue to progress over time.
Could I be at risk of developing systemic sclerosis?
Anyone can develop systemic sclerosis, though women are at a higher risk than men. If you have noticed a thickening of your skin accompanied by other systemic complications, consult with your rheumatologist as soon as possible.
How will a rheumatologist treat systemic sclerosis?
There is currently no cure for systemic sclerosis, although medications are available to help reduce pain and the effects of systemic sclerosis on the blood vessels, digestive system and other areas of the body. In addition, physical therapy may help patients improve mobility and prevent complications.
Is there anything I can do to help manage systemic sclerosis?
Yes — maintaining an active lifestyle and avoiding nicotine products can help manage your symptoms. Speak with your doctor about other ways of preventing complications of systemic sclerosis.
Did you know?
- Its other name, scleroderma, is Greek for “hard skin” — skleros (hard) + derma (skin).
- For many patients the opening act is Raynaud’s: fingers that blanch white, then blue, then flush red in the cold — a tiny traffic light in your hands.
- Heartburn is one of its most common everyday symptoms, because the food pipe is a muscle-lined tube, too.
Common worries
Why so many organ tests — lungs, heart, kidneys — when my complaint is skin?
Scleroderma can affect internal organs silently, and modern treatment has transformed outcomes mainly by finding organ involvement early. Baseline and periodic checks of the lungs, heart, blood pressure, and kidneys are how nothing gets missed while it is still very treatable.
Why do I need a blood-pressure cuff at home?
Kidney crisis — the most dangerous scleroderma complication — announces itself as a sudden blood-pressure rise, often before symptoms. Regular home readings catch it in the window where treatment works best. It is the single most valuable habit a scleroderma patient can build.
Will my skin keep tightening forever?
Usually not. Skin thickening typically progresses for a few years, then plateaus and often softens somewhat. The rate and extent vary, which is why early treatment of the internal organs — not the skin score alone — drives the plan.
What counts as a flare: for scleroderma, the warning events are specific: a finger that stays white, blue, or develops a sore that will not heal; new or worsening breathlessness; or — most urgent — severe headache, blurred vision, or very high blood pressure, which can signal a kidney crisis needing emergency care.
What to do: severe headache, vision change, or breathlessness means urgent care the same day. For finger sores or colour changes that are not recovering, call us at (361) 400-7700 promptly — early treatment protects the fingertip.
Do not adjust steroids on your own: never start or raise steroid tablets without calling — in scleroderma, higher steroid doses are linked to triggering kidney crisis, so steroid decisions here are always made deliberately, with blood-pressure checks.
What isn’t a flare: fingers that blanch briefly in the cold and recover fully with warming (ordinary Raynaud’s behaviour), or mild reflux after a large late meal. Note the pattern and tell us at your visit.
Ready to be seen? New patients are seen within 2–4 weeks.