Classified as an autoimmune rheumatic disease, scleroderma is a chronic connective tissue disease that affects nearly 300,000 Americans. Diagnosis of the disease is difficult, but the most noticeable symptom of the disease is hardening of the skin or heart burn.
Scleroderma can develop in anyone at any age but affects women between the ages of 25 to 55 the most. African-Americans and Choctaw Native Americans are also more likely to develop a type of scleroderma that affects internal organs.
Unfortunately the cause of scleroderma is still unknown and there currently is no cure but there are plenty of treatments and medications to help alleviate symptoms.