Symptoms

Symptoms of Scleroderma

Patients with scleroderma can experience a variety of symptoms. The most common symptoms include:

  • Thickening and swelling of the tips of the fingers
  • Pale and tingly fingers that may become numb when exposed to cold or when emotionally upset, called Raynaud's phenomenon
  • Joint pain
  • Taut, shiny, darker skin on large areas such as the face, that may hinder movement
  • Appearance of spider veins
  • Calcium bumps on the fingers or other bony areas
  • Grating noise as inflamed tissues move
  • Frozen (immobile) fingers, wrists, or elbows due to scarring of the skin
  • Sores on fingertips and knuckles
  • Scarring of the esophagus, leading to heartburn and difficulty swallowing
  • Scarring of the lungs, leading to shortness of breath
  • Heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms
  • Kidney disease