What is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma is a rare, chronic autoimmune disease which afflicts an estimated 150,000⁽¹⁾ to 500,000⁽²⁾ Americans, primarily females who are 30 to 50 years old at onset. The overall occurrence is 30 people per 100,000 and the ratio of women to men is about four to one.The systemic forms of scleroderma cause fibrosis (scar tissue) to be formed in the skin and/or internal organs. The fibrosis eventually causes the involved skin or organs to harden, which is why scleroderma is popularly known as the "disease that turns people into stone." The cause of scleroderma is unknown. Some cases of scleroderma have been linked to chemical exposures. Genetics, fetal cells, and viruses might also be factors in the development of scleroderma. Scleroderma is not classified as contagious , which means that you cannot get scleroderma by shaking hands, hugging, kissing, sexual contact, contact with blood or bodily fluids, sharing eating utensils, or by airborne contact from coughing or sneezing. And it is not cancerous in any way.