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Healthy Living: Understanding scleroderma
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The symptoms of scleroderma, an autoimmune disorder, can be minor, but if left untreated, they can have severe consequences.
"We still don't have a cure and those who have a very aggressive disease or are identified late, there are individuals who had lung transplants, stem cell transplants, if they didn't respond," rheumatologist Dr. Lee Shapiro said.
Scleroderma is a chronic connective tissue disease.
"The body's immune system stimulates the fibroblasts, the cells that make collagen, to make way too much, so some people have skin thickening on their fingers or internally," Dr. Shapiro said.
In addition to medication, lifestyle changes are necessary in order to manage the disease.
Learn more by watching the video above.