How does scleroderma progress?

In scleroderma, cells start making collagen as if there were an injury that needs repairing. ... Although scleroderma does not seem to run in families, it is common for family members to have other autoimmune diseases like thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ... In many patients, it remains being mild and does not progress. read more

How scleroderma progresses and changes over time varies greatly among people. Most people experience tight and swollen fingers in the beginning and will likely have Raynaud’s phenomenon. Afterwards, it can take months to years for the full extent of the disease to develop. In many patients, it remains being mild and does not progress. read more

You don’t have to worry about systemic scleroderma if you have localized scleroderma, though, since it does not progress into the more severe, systemic scleroderma. A person with systemic scleroderma, on the other hand, experiences skin changes as well as damage to blood vessels and internal organs. read more

Some forms of localized scleroderma which affect only the skin do not progress and can even improve. Other forms such as progressive systemic sclerosis can (slowly or quickly) progress to involve the blood vessels and internal organs. read more