Which department should I go to for scleroderma?

Scleroderma is a skin disease that mostly affects female patients, with the female to male ratio being three to one. The onset age is mostly between 20 and 50 years old. Scleroderma is divided into two major types, localized and systemic. If the disease is severe, it can cause damage to other organs and may also cause loss of ability to work, endangering life. So, which department should I go to for scleroderma?

Scleroderma is a connective tissue disease characterized by hardening of collagen fibers in the skin systems. This disease ranks second only to lupus erythematosus among connective tissue diseases. The cause of scleroderma is still unclear, but it can be summarized as follows: 1. Genetic factors: some patients have a clear family history;

2. Infection factors: Many patients often have acute infections before the onset of the disease, including pharyngitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia, scarlet fever, measles, sinusitis, etc.;

3. Abnormal connective tissue metabolism: patients show extensive connective tissue lesions, and fibroblast culture of patients shows that the activity of collagen synthesis is significantly increased; 4. Vascular abnormalities: patients often have Raynaud's phenomenon, which is not limited to the extremities but also occurs in visceral blood vessels;

5. Immune abnormalities. You should go to the rheumatology department.

Scleroderma is mainly divided into localized scleroderma and systemic scleroderma.

1. Localized scleroderma: The main feature of the disease is localized skin hardening, which may be distributed in the form of dots, lines or sheets. For example, when the lesions widely affect most of the skin or even the entire body, it is called disseminated scleroderma. The spots and patches are more common on the neck, face, thighs, breasts and buttocks, while the band-like ones are more common on the forehead and limbs. When the skin lesions first occur, they are light red or purple-red spots, usually 1-2 or more, with clear edges, slightly higher than the skin surface, gradually expanding and hardening, yellow-white or ivory and hardening. The skin is not easily wrinkled or pinched, and appears smooth, dry, and sweat-free. Slowly, after several years, the hardening is reduced and the area becomes thinner and atrophied. Pigmentation or hypopigmentation often occurs. In linear cases, the subcutaneous tissue and muscles may sometimes become hardened. This condition usually occurs on one side and affects body activity. Scalp damage often causes permanent scarring of hair loss, shaped like a scar. Localized scleroderma should be differentiated from idiopathic macular atrophy, lichen sclerosus atrophicus, and lipoid necrosis.

2. Systemic sclerosis: In the early stage of the disease, there may be low fever, general weakness, joint pain, extremity artery spasm, etc.; depending on the severity of the disease, it can be divided into diffuse systemic sclerosis, acrosclerosis and CREST syndrome. Patients with systemic sclerosis have a rapid progression of the disease, with skin lesions all over the body and more severe involvement of internal organs. Patients with the acrofacial type have a slow progression of the disease, with skin lesions mostly limited to the limbs and face, and obvious spasm of the extremity arteries, but less involvement of internal organs and a better prognosis. CREST syndrome is a mild form of systemic sclerosis, with less involvement of internal organs except the esophagus.

Treatment of scleroderma: The following drugs are commonly used in the treatment of scleroderma with Western medicine: Vasoactive agents: mainly used to dilate blood vessels, reduce blood viscosity, and improve microcirculation, such as danshen injection, guanethidine and methyldopa; connective tissue inhibitors: such as penicillamine, colchicine, centella asiatica, etc.; glucocorticoids: effective for early inflammation, edema, joints and other symptoms of scleroderma, but should be avoided if proteinuria, hypertension or azotemia exists; immunosuppressants: azathioprine, chlorambucil, and cyclophosphamide can be used, which have certain effects on the joints, skin and kidney lesions of patients with scleroderma. Combined use with glucocorticoids can often improve the efficacy and reduce the dosage of corticosteroids.

Patients should quit smoking, avoid getting cold, and keep their whole body warm. Early diagnosis and early treatment. This can ensure that the disease is under control. The treatment of scleroderma is a long process, so patients must have unremitting determination, do not smoke or drink, pay attention to regular life, pay attention to preventing trauma, do not be overly nervous, and maintain an optimistic attitude.