Scleroderma's signs and symptoms vary from person to person, depending on which parts of the body are affected. Skin-related signs and symptoms Nearly everyone who has scleroderma experiences a hardening and tightening of the skin. The first parts of the body to be affected are usually the fingers, hands, feet and face. In some people, the skin thickening can also involve the forearms, upper arms, chest, abdomen, lower legs and thighs. Early symptoms may include swelling and itchiness. Affected skin can become lighter or darker in color and may look shiny because of the tightness. Some people also experience small red spots, called telangiectasia, on their hands and face. Calcium deposits can form under the skin, particularly at the fingertips, causing bumps that can be seen on X-rays. Raynaud's phenomenon Raynaud's phenomenon is common in scleroderma and occurs because of an inappropriate and exaggerated contraction of the small blood vessels in the fingers and toes in response to the cold or emotional distress. When this happens, the digits may turn white, blue or red, and feel painful or numb. Raynaud's phenomenon also can occur in people who don't have scleroderma. Digestive problems Scleroderma can affect any part of the digestive system, from the esophagus to the rectum. Depending on which parts of the digestive system are affected, signs and symptoms may include:  Heartburn Difficulty swallowing Bloating Diarrhea Constipation Fecal incontinence  Heart and lung problems When scleroderma affects the heart or lungs, it can cause shortness of breath, decreased exercise tolerance and dizziness. Scleroderma can cause scarring in the lung tissues that may result in increasing shortness of breath over time. There are medications that may help slow the progression of this lung damage. Scleroderma can also cause the blood pressure to increase in the circulation that goes between the heart and the lungs. This is called pulmonary hypertension. In addition to shortness of breath, pulmonary hypertension can also cause excess fluid in the legs, feet and sometimes around the heart. When scleroderma affects the heart, heartbeats can become irregular. Heart failure may also occur in some people.
scleroderma's signs symptoms vary person person  depending parts body affected  skin-related signs symptoms nearly who scleroderma experiences hardening tightening skin  first parts body affected fingers  hands  feet face  people  skin thickening can involve forearms  upper arms  chest  abdomen  lower legs thighs  early symptoms may include swelling itchiness  affected skin can lighter darker color may look shiny tightness  people experience small red spots  called telangiectasia  hands face  calcium deposits can form skin  fingertips  causing bumps can seen x-rays  raynaud's phenomenon raynaud's phenomenon common scleroderma occurs inappropriate exaggerated contraction small blood vessels fingers toes response cold emotional distress  happens  digits may turn white  blue red  feel painful numb  raynaud's phenomenon can occur people who don't scleroderma  digestive problems scleroderma can affect part digestive system  esophagus rectum  depending parts digestive system affected  signs symptoms may include:  heartburn difficulty swallowing bloating diarrhea constipation fecal incontinence  heart lung problems scleroderma affects heart lungs  can cause shortness breath  decreased exercise tolerance dizziness  scleroderma can cause scarring lung tissues may result increasing shortness breath time  medications may help slow progression lung damage  scleroderma can cause blood pressure increase circulation goes heart lungs  called pulmonary hypertension  addition shortness breath  pulmonary hypertension can cause excess fluid legs  feet heart  scleroderma affects heart  heartbeats can irregular  heart failure may occur people
scleroderma