Disease Information

Scleroderma is a group of rare diseases that involve the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues.

Scleroderma affects women more often than men and most commonly occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. While there is no cure for scleroderma, a variety of treatments can ease symptoms and improve quality of life.

There are many different types of scleroderma. In some people, scleroderma affects only the skin. But in many people, scleroderma also harms structures beyond the skin, such as blood vessels, internal organs, and the digestive tract (systemic scleroderma). Signs and symptoms vary, depending on which type of scleroderma you have. (SOURCE: Mayo Clinic)

Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) is an uncommon connective tissue disease, which is seen in all races, but does have an increased incidence and prevalence in African-Americans. It develops at a younger age in African-Americans than in Caucasians. The peak age of onset in Caucasian females is between 55 and 64.  

In African-American females, there is a group with very early onset at age 15 to 24, with the main peak between 45 and 54 years old. In African-American males, there is also increased incidence and prevalence, with an earlier onset than in Caucasians, 35 to 54 years old in African-Americans compared to age 45 to 64 in Caucasian males.

In addition to being more frequent and occurring at a younger age, African-Americans with
scleroderma have increased morbidity and mortality than Caucasians. (SOURCE: Scleroderma Foundation) Link –