Symptoms Of Scleroderma

Red Spots On Face And Chest

Because the blood vessels fail to function properly in bodies afflicted with scleroderma, they can begin to swell near the surface of the skin. The coagulation of blood cells can cause the appearance of red spots or lines on the skin, particularly on the face and chest. Though not physically painful, they are not aesthetically pleasing. When circulation does improve, though, the natural flow of blood should cause these spots to go away, meaning they are not typically permanent. Red spots on the face and chest occur, at some time or another, in about seventy-five percent of scleroderma patients.

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a condition characterized by a burning sensation in the lower area of the chest that happens when there is backflow of stomach acid into the affected individual's esophagus. This abnormal mechanism occurs because the valve responsible for preventing stomach acid from coming up the esophagus or the esophageal sphincter is not functioning correctly. This malfunction is a common occurrence in individuals with moderate to severe scleroderma because the disease causes the body to deposit too much collagen into various tissues around the body.

Acid reflux is not usually the first manifestation of scleroderma, but it is prevalent among individuals with severe cases of the disease. Scleroderma often affects the muscles surrounding the lower esophagus when excess collagen is deposited in the surrounding connective tissues. This deposit causes the area around the lower esophageal sphincter to become thick and hard, resulting in the sphincter's impaired ability to close securely enough to stop stomach acid from reentering the individual's esophagus.