by EBSCO Medical Review Board

There are no treatments that can cure scleroderma. The goal is to:

  • Manage symptoms
  • Protect the skin from more damage
  • Improve quality of life

This may be done with:

Lifestyle changesMedicationsOther treatments

Surgery may be done for people with severe disease.

References

Kowal-Bielecka O, Fransen J, et al. Update of EULAR recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017 Aug;76(8):1327-1339.

Localized scleroderma. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:  https://www.dynamed.com/condition/localized-scleroderma . Accessed August 12, 2020.

Scleroderma. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niams.nih.gov/Health%5FInfo/Scleroderma/default.asp. Accessed August 12, 2020.

Systemic sclerosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:  https://www.dynamed.com/condition/systemic-sclerosis . Accessed August 12, 2020.

What is scleroderma? Scleroderma Foundation website. Available at: http://www.scleroderma.org/site/PageServer?pagename=patients%5Fwhatis#.WEhnf02QzIV. Accessed August 12, 2020.

Revision Information

  • Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board James P. Cornell, MD
  • Review Date: 03/2020
  • Update Date: 03/09/2021