World day of scleroderma

• April 25, 2024

The day of the scleroderma is celebrated on June 29, in commemoration of the anniversary of the death of the painter Paul Klee who suffered from this pathology and that currently affects about 300 people per million inhabitants and from which each year between 20 and 25 new cases per million people appear.

This day is to recognize the value of those people who live with the scleroderma and to claim equality of treatments and care for people around the world.

What is scleroderma?

The scleroderma also known as systemic sclerosis , which means hard skin, is a disease autoimmune that affects especially the skin, causing it to become rigid and hard (fibrosis ). This development of fibrosis refers to when the normal tissue of an organ is replaced by fibrous tissue and stops functioning properly.

Scleroderma directly affects the muscles Y joints , although it can also damage other organs like the heart, the lungs, the esophagus or the kidneys. In addition to the hardening of the skin, patients often suffer swelling and joint pain in their hands, elbows and knees. In the same way, with the advance of the disease, the friction of joint friction and the flexures contractures , especially on the fingers.

The internal organ most frequently affected is the digestive tube , causing difficulty in swallowing, burning and vomiting. Other more severe complications of the disease manifest with difficulty in breathing or increase in blood pressure , due to lung, heart or kidney involvement and even kidney failure.

There is no total cure and although currently the Causes , yes we foundtreatments effective in stopping the progress of scleroderma such as:

1. Rehabilitation (to maintain joint mobility)
2. Use of moisturizers on the affected skin. The creams of Solar protection they should be used to avoid hyperpigmentation (dark skin color) of the affected areas.

Latest investigations have shown that there are alterations genetic that can favor the appearance of this disease although it can occur at any time of life, the most frequent stages are in women of middle age (between 40 and 50 years old).

It is important that the sufferer receive individualized care by a professional. We have to  take care of and monitor skin wounds even if they are very small. The best way to take care of them is not to expose yourself to cold and to the extent possible, always maintain a constant temperature, avoiding small traumas and pressures on the fingers; do moderate exercises , especially stretches and go to rehabilitation in certain periods.