1. By: Aubrey Chinberg

2.  Scleroderma affects a person’s skin, blood vessels, muscles and internal organs  It is an autoimmune disorder.  Autoimmune disorders cause the immune to attack and destroy healthy body tissue.

3.  Limited Scleroderma causes the immune system to stimulate the production of collagen, causing buildup around organs which impairs their functions.

4.  Symptoms usually develop gradually, but if you have any of the following symptoms, see your doctor immediately. 1. Bumps under skin, mainly found on elbows, fingers and knees 2. Red lines or spots on the skin (these are usually not painful) 3. Raynaud’s Phenomenon: blood vessels in fingers and toes spasm due to cold or stress, blocking blood flow.

5.  Surgery is also an option for such symptoms as calcium deposits, which need to be surgically removed.  Even though there is no known cure, your doctor may give you drugs that will lessen your symptoms. Drugs such as:  1.Antacid Drugs which reduce production of stomach acid  2. Blood Pressure Lowering Drugs which will increase blood flow to your toes and fingers  3.Drugs to suppress the immune system

6.  If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor right away. Without medical treatment, scleroderma will progress and go on to cause the following complications:  1.Arrhythmias, abnormal heart rhythms  2. Ulcers on fingers and toes  3. Scarring of the heart tissue  4. Death

7.  Women are more likely to get Scleroderma  Women of African and Choctaw Indian descent are much more likely than women of European descent.  If anyone in your family has an autoimmune disease, you are more likely to have Scleroderma  Toxic substances, such as polyvinyl chloride, benzene, silica and trichloroethylene, may trigger scleroderma in people with a genetic predisposition to the disease.

8.  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/crest- syndrome/DS00580 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/crest- syndrome/DS00580  http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and- treatments/crest-syndrome http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and- treatments/crest-syndrome  http://www.google.com/search?q=crest+synd rome&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en- US:official&client=firefox- a&surl=1&safe=active&um=1&ie=UTF- 8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=w i&biw=800&bih=497