Is morphea a skin cancer?
This is a common question that arises in the mind of majority of people. The answer to this question is no. Morphea is a skin problem, but it is not cancerous. There are conditions in which morphea gets combines with other severe skin problems, which can lead to cancer but morphea along is not a cancer.
What causes morphea skin disease?
There is much to learn about morphea, but its onset could be related to:
- repeated trauma to the skin
- aggressive treatments, such as radiation therapy
- an infection
- skin damage caused by environmental exposure
What is the prognosis of scleroderma?
Many scleroderma patients, even those with more invasive systemic scleroderma, can expect to have a normal life expectancy. But to remain as healthy as possible, you need to be open with the doctor about how you feel.
Is morphea a hereditary disease?
Morphea, or localized scleroderma, usually begins between the ages of 20 to 50 years as patches of yellowish or ivory-colored rigid, dry skin (inflammatory stage). ... but it is believed that the presence of certain genes may make it more likely that a person will develop the disease (genetic predisposition).
Can morphea turn into scleroderma?
Morphea is sometimes referred to as “localized scleroderma”. However, despite their similar names, patients with morphea are not at increased risk of developing internal organ scleroderma involvement (systemic sclerosis).
What is the difference between scleroderma and morphea?
Scleroderma is a disease of unknown origin that affects the microvasculature and loose connective tissues of the body and is characterized by fibrosis and obliteration of vessels in the skin, lungs, gut, kidneys and heart. Morphea is a localized form of scleroderma and affects primarily just the skin.
Is morphea systemic scleroderma?
Two categories of scleroderma are known: systemic sclerosis, characterized by cutaneous sclerosis and visceral involvement, and localized scleroderma or morphea which classically presents benign and self-limited evolution and is confined to the skin and/or underlying tissues.
What triggers morphea?
The cause of morphea is unknown. It may be caused by an unusual reaction of your immune system. In people at increased risk of morphea, it could be triggered by injury to the affected area, medications, chemical toxins, an infection or radiation therapy. The condition isn't contagious.
How do you stop the spread of morphea?
For severe or widespread morphea, your doctor may prescribe an immunosuppressive medication, such as oral methotrexate (Trexall), corticosteroid pills or both. Or your doctor may suggest hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) or mycophenolate mofetil. Each of these drugs has potential side effects.
Does morphea cause weight gain?
Acute localized scleroderma (morphea) can present as severe generalized oedema with rapid weight gain and oliguria. The putative mechanism is increased capillary permeability.
What does morphea scleroderma look like?
It frequently appears as a linear patch of thickened, discolored skin on the arms or legs, but patches may also appear on an individual's forehead. These thickened patches may extend deep into tissues; affect muscles, joints and bones; and result in deformities.
Can morphea affect internal organs?
Morphea predominately affects your skin. It doesn't involve your internal organs. In most cases, it resolves on its own, but you can experience a relapse. More severe forms can lead to cosmetic deformities, and it occasionally affects the muscle, joints, or bone.
What does morphea look like when it starts?
Morphea is usually asymptomatic, with occasional itch and rarely pain. Morphea usually begins as a red or purple area of skin that then becomes thickened and white.
How do you get rid of morphea naturally?
5 Ways to Relieve Morphea ItchMoisturize your skin. The main morphea symptoms are tight, hard, and dry discolored patches on the skin. ... Get out in the sun. Another inexpensive morphea treatment includes getting more sunlight. ... Try phototherapy. ... Use a medicated cream. ... Avoid itchy situations.
Can morphea affect the lungs?
Conclusions Pulmonary involvement is found more frequently in the generalized form of morphea. The patient that resulted positive for ANA have a higher risk for developing pulmonary involvement. Anyway the pulmonary involvement in morphea is moderate.
What is the life expectancy of someone with scleroderma?
In general, patients with limited scleroderma have a normal life expectancy. Some have problems with their GI tract, especially heartburn; severe Raynaud's and musculoskeletal pain; and a small subset can develop pulmonary hypertension that can be life-threatening.
What do scleroderma lesions look like?
Affected skin can become lighter or darker in color and may look shiny because of the tightness. Some people also experience small red spots, called telangiectasia, on their hands and face. Calcium deposits can form under the skin, particularly at the fingertips, causing bumps that can be seen on X-rays.
What is the survival rate for scleroderma?
Because the presentation and prognosis of SSc are highly heterogeneous, studies showed a 10-year survival rate between 50 and 84% [4, 18,19,20,21]. Such mortality is still related to SSc in 27 to 72% of cases [3, 6, 8, 16,17,18, 21,22,23,24,25,26,27].
What is the newest treatment for scleroderma?
Two drugs are currently FDA approved to treat lung scarring, or pulmonary fibrosis, that occurs as a result of scleroderma: nintedanib and tocilizumab.
What is morphea scleroderma?
Morphea scleroderma, more commonly known as morphea, is a skin condition characterized by discolored and thickened patches of skin on various areas...
Is morphea scleroderma an autoimmune disease?
Morphea scleroderma is often considered an autoimmune disease, but this theory remains unconfirmed. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune syste...
What causes morphea scleroderma?
While the exact cause of morphea is unknown, potential contributing factors include an atypical reaction of the immune system, recent infection, re...
How rare is morphea scleroderma?
Morphea scleroderma is a rare skin disease thought to affect approximately 3 out of every 100,000 individuals.
What are the signs and symptoms of morphea scleroderma?
In general, signs of morphea include the development of red- or purple-colored oval patches on the skin, which usually thicken and become white ove...
How is morphea scleroderma diagnosed?
Morphea scleroderma is commonly diagnosed after careful examination of the skin and a thorough evaluation of an individual's signs, symptoms, and f...
How is morphea scleroderma treated?
Morphea scleroderma typically resolves on its own without treatment within a few years, though some individuals may be left with darkened areas of...
What are the most important facts to know about morphea scleroderma?
Morphea scleroderma is a skin condition characterized by hardened, discolored, and thickened patches of skin on various areas of the body without i...
What are the most important facts to know about morphea scleroderma?
However, it is considered an autoimmune disease and is associated with various predisposing factors. Signs and symptoms of morphea scleroderma largely depend on the presenting subtype or classification, three of which are circumscribed morphea, generalized morphea, and linear morphea. Morphea scleroderma is commonly diagnosed after careful examination of the skin and a thorough evaluation of an individual's signs, symptoms, and family history. Blood tests and skin biopsy may also assist with diagnosis. Morphea scleroderma may resolve on its own without treatment within a few years, and treatment is often optional, depending on the classification and severity of morphea.
How is morphea scleroderma diagnosed?
Morphea scleroderma is commonly diagnosed after careful examination of the skin and a thorough evaluation of an individual's signs, symptoms, and family history. Further tests may be conducted to support diagnosis, such as blood tests to investigate for autoimmune diseases or a confirmatory skin biopsy, in which a small sample of the affected skin is removed and tested.
What causes morphea scleroderma?
While the exact cause of morphea is unknown, potential contributing factors include an atypical reaction of the immune system, recent infection, repeated skin trauma, exposure to chemical toxins, or exposure to radiation. Morphea may also be linked to an overproduction of collagen, which is a protein in the skin that provides structural support. Excessive collagen deposition may lead to parts of the skin becoming stiff and hard.
How long does it take for morphea scleroderma to resolve?
Morphea scleroderma typically resolves on its own without treatment within a few years, though some individuals may be left with darkened areas of skin. Until morphea resolves, treatment usually focuses on controlling symptoms.
What is morphea skin?
Morphea scleroderma, more commonly known as morphea, is a skin condition characterized by discolored and thickened patches of skin on various areas of the body . It is a form of localized scleroderma, which is an inflammatory condition that causes hard and thickened patches of skin on different areas of the body, ...
How do you know if you have morphea?
In general, signs of morphea include the development of red- or purple-colored oval patches on the skin, which usually thicken and become white over time. Morphea is typically asymptomatic, but some individuals may experience itching or pain. The exact signs and symptoms of morphea scleroderma can vary depending on the specific classification.
What is the most common subtype of morphea?
Circumscribed mor phea is the most common subtype that predominates in adults, characterized by one or a few (i.e., 3 to 4) oval-shaped, thickened patches of skin, which are usually painless but may be itchy. The patches vary in pigment, with some areas appearing darker or lighter than the surrounding skin.
What is the most common subtype of morphea?
Circumscribed morphea (also known as plaque morphea): Most common subtype in adults (and overall) Linear morphea (sometimes called linear scleroderma): Most common subtype in children 2. However, clinicians have also used other descriptions for specific manifestations of morphea.
What is the layer of skin that is affected by linear morphea?
Sometimes linear morphea just affects the outermost layer of skin, the epidermis. But sometimes linear extends into the deeper skin (dermis) and even deeper into a layer called fascia. Sometimes it even extends into the muscles and joints.
What are the health problems associated with morphea?
Because of this, it can cause some additional health problems, like the following: Limiting joint movement (if the morphea connects with a joint) Muscle contractures (tightening of the muscles and joints that can cause deformity and pain) Differences in limb length (from constricted growth) and changes in gait.
How does morphea affect your life?
Even people with more mild disease might be self-conscious about cosmetic changes from the condition. By working closely with your clinician , you can minimize the impact on your life .
How does morphea grow?
Symptoms of morphea tend to grow through periods of improving and worsening over time as new lesions form. An initial inflammatory period in an area is followed by a burnout phase with no active inflammation but with some residual permanent changes to the skin (and deeper tissues, if applicable).
What is it called when you have a lot of skin lesions?
Sometimes areas of oval skin lesions affect not just one or two places but multiple parts of the body. This is sometimes called generalized morphea. When people have symptoms both of linear and circumscribed morphea, that sometimes goes by the term “mixed morphea.”
Is morphea a plaque?
Another point of confusion is that, in the past, morphea has sometimes been used to refer just to the circumscribed (plaque) type of morphea. However, rheumatologists have been moving more towards using the term more generally to refer to all types of localized scleroderma. 4
Is morphea a scleroderma?
Morphea is one of the types of scleroderma. It's a type in which the fibrosis is localized to the skin. In other words, Morphea does not have the systemic organ effects that show up in systemic scleroderma.
Does high blood pressure cause scleroderma?
Nancy, no, high systemic blood pressure does not generally go with scleroderma except along with advanced pulmonary hypertension. Or at least it's not anywhere specific to scleroderma.
Can morphea travel?
If you are lucky, the morphea won't travel and become systemic scleroderma from what I've been told. I hope my morphea stays localized to my skin, as that is miserable enough...
What are the two types of scleroderma?
Types of Scleroderma. There are two main categories of scleroderma: localized and systemic. Each category is made up of several conditions. Localized scleroderma: often affects only the skin and not major organs. Systemic scleroderma: affects the skin and may affect the tissues under it, including blood vessels and major organs, ...
What is linear scleroderma?
Linear scleroderma is more common in children 10 and younger. These tight, thick bands can appear on the extremities, the back and front of the trunk, the buttocks or the face. They often appear as a single band in one body area and can be seen mixed with patches of morphea. Linear scleroderma can affect the bones and the muscles. When linear scleroderma appears on the arms or legs, it can cause the child’s limb to under develop, causing disability.
What is the name of the condition where the skin thickens over large areas of the body?
Diffuse scleroderma is a subtype of scleroderma where excess collagen production causes skin thickening over large areas of the body, usually the fingers, hands, arms, anterior trunk, legs and face. There can be significant associated organ damage, including to the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, lungs and heart.
What is a thick, tight patch of morphea?
Pansclerotic morphea is a severe form of generalized morphea with involvement of most of the body.
What is the name of the discolored patches of skin?
With circumscribed morphea (another name for discolored patches of skin), you may have a single oval patch or you may see a few patches of morphea. The patches vary in size and typically have a red border and a thickened pale-yellow center. These lesions can enlarge when active and then flatten and become asymptomatic with treatment. Deep circumscribed morphea extends into the subcutaneous tissues.
What are the three types of sclerosis?
Three Types of Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma): Limited, Diffuse and Sine. Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) affects the skin as well as what’s underneath, such as blood vessels, muscles and joints, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, kidneys, lungs and heart.
Does scleroderma go away?
However, the tissue injury may extend into the structures underlying the skin, including the subcutaneous tissue, fascia, muscle or bone. Localized scleroderma skin lesions can get better or even go away.
How to differentiate pansclerotic morphea from scleroderma?
Helpful clinical clues to differentiate pansclerotic morphea from scleroderma include that lesions spread from the trunk acrally, absence of Rayaud’s phenomenon, absence of nailfold capillary change, sparing of hands and digits, lack of characteristic antibodies associated with scleroderma, and absence of internal organ involvement.
How common is morphea in Caucasians?
The disease is likely more common in Caucasians (population-based studies are lacking) with an overall incidence of 2.7 per 100,000 people. Children most commonly present with the linear subtype, whereas adults more often present with plaque or generalized subtypes. Every subtype can occur in any age group, however. Some postulate the presence of an “autoimmune phenotype.” Individuals with morphea tend to have a higher risk for other autoimmune diseases as well as increased prevalence of familial autoimmunity.
How long does it take for morphea to evolve?
Clinical evolution of morphea lesions may occur very rapidly or over months; patients often have a mixture of active and inactive lesions:
What is the ANA in morphea?
Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) are positive in 39% to 80% (especially in linear and generalized subtype); ssDNA antibodies have been associated with linear morphea and may correlate with increased severity and increased activity (although not fully confirmed).
What is the initial inflammatory process that leaves behind dense tissue?
Sclerotic: The initial inflammatory process leaves behind dense tissue, characterized by homogenization of papillary dermis with extensive sclerosis, collagen deposition and loss of appendageal structures. The inflammatory infiltrates are minimal (Figure 7).
Where are perivascular inflammatory cells located?
Inflammatory: Interstitial and perivascular inflammatory cells (mainly lymphocytes and plasma cells with sparse eosinophils, mast cells or macrophages) are mainly located in the dermis but may also extend deeper into the subcutaneous tissue, depending on the depth of involvement; Tissue edema is usually evident. Thick collagen bundles may be present but may be absent in very early lesions (Figure 6).
Where does pansclerotic involvement begin?
Pansclerotic (Figure 5): Continuous involvement of majority of body surface begins on trunk and spreads to extremities with sharp cut off at MCP/MTP joints (in contrast to scleroderma)
Types of Morphea
Symptoms
- Symptoms of morphea tend to grow through periods of improving and worsening over time as new lesions form. An initial inflammatory period in an area is followed by a burnout phase with no active inflammation but with some residual permanent changes to the skin (and deeper tissues, if applicable). This cycle will often stop on its own within a few years, even without intervention. Li…
Causes
- We aren’t entirely clear on what causes morphea. However, morphea seems to be a kind of autoimmune disease. In this case, dysregulation of part of the immune system drives the symptoms. For example, certain inflammatory cytokines (immune signaling molecules) can be overproduced. Certain immune cells like B cells and T cells may become unnaturally activated. T…
Diagnosis
- The medical history and medical exam are key parts of diagnosis. Sometimes these alone will make your clinician strongly suspect the diagnosis. Your medical provider will ask about your recent symptoms, your medications, and your past medical problems. Importantly, you’ll also be asked about whether you have symptoms that might correspond better to other medical conditi…
Treatment
- Unfortunately, we don’t have a cure for morphea, but a variety of treatments can help lessen symptoms. Specific treatment will depend on the type and severity of morphea involved. But we are still learning a lot about the best treatments to use in people with different kinds and degrees of morphea. People who have circumscribed morphea that just affects the outer layer of skin ar…
Coping
- Morphea can have a significant psychological impact. Not surprisingly, people with more severe types of morphea tend to experience more problems related to this, and those with disfiguring disease may be most strongly affected. Professional counseling can be very helpful for people trying to navigate the disease.9
A Word from Verywell
- Especially for people with more severe forms of the disease, morphea can significantly impact quality of life. Even people with more mild disease might be self-conscious about cosmetic changes from the condition. By working closely with your clinician, you can minimize the impact on your life.