What department does localized scleroderma belong to?

Speaking of scleroderma, many friends feel that it is like a skin disease, because its clinical symptoms are mainly on the skin surface, and scleroderma is divided into two different types: localized and systemic according to the symptoms. But no matter how many types of scleroderma there are, their causes are actually roughly similar, and scleroderma is not a skin disease and cannot be treated by a dermatologist. So what department does localized scleroderma belong to?

Localized scleroderma is a rheumatic and immunological disease and should be treated by seeing a rheumatologist. Generally, large hospitals have rheumatologists departments where you can go for treatment. Of course, the incidence of this disease is relatively low, and it is recommended that you go to a specialized hospital that specializes in treating this disease. Scleroderma is a systemic connective tissue disease characterized by hardening of the skin and other systems, known as "skin arthritis" in traditional Chinese medicine literature. The clinical features are swelling and hardening of the skin, muscle atrophy, and bone and organ damage. The onset is slow, the course of the disease is long, and it mostly occurs in young and middle-aged women.

According to its clinical manifestations and invasion sites, scleroderma can be divided into localized scleroderma and systemic scleroderma:

(1) Localized scleroderma: including morphea, zona scleroderma, and guttate scleroderma.

It is common on the scalp, forehead, waist, abdomen and limbs. The skin lesions initially appear as light red, slightly edematous macules of varying sizes, single or multiple. Then it gradually hardens and becomes light yellow or yellowish white. The surface is smooth and shiny like wax, with a slight concave center. Hair falls out at the lesion site, sweating decreases, and the surrounding capillaries dilate, appearing purple-red or with darker pigmentation. In the late stage, the skin atrophies and loses pigmentation. Generally there are no subjective symptoms. Some patients may experience mild itching or tingling, which gradually leads to dull perception. There are no obvious systemic symptoms. Localized scleroderma generally does not invade internal organs.

(2) Systemic sclerosis: including acrofacial sclerosis, diffuse sclerosis, and CREST syndrome (including acrofacial sclerosis and telangiectasia, calcium accumulation, Raynaud's phenomenon, and esophageal motility abnormalities).

Initially, symptoms may include fatigue, weight loss, joint pain, low-grade fever, and edema and stiffness in the hands. Raynaud's phenomenon (spasm of the peripheral arteries) is often the earliest symptom of this disease. Afterwards, the main symptoms include skin damage, musculoskeletal damage, internal organ damage, respiratory tract, heart, and kidney damage.

After knowing which department localized scleroderma belongs to, it is recommended that patients must receive treatment as soon as possible to avoid the disease causing damage to the heart and lungs and threatening the patient's life. In addition, patients are reminded that the disease takes a relatively long time to treat, and patients must pay attention to cooperating with the doctor to ensure a speedy recovery from the disease.