Tanya Oswalt reveals her personal challenges with being misdiagnosed for years and finally learning that the condition she was suffering from for approximately 20 years is lichen sclerosus. She explains some of the symptoms and the difficulty of living with the disease. She learned about Dr Nathan Newman from watching “The Doctors” TV show and Dr Newman’s stem cell treatment for the disease. Tanya states, “Overnight my skin started healing and started repairing itself.”
There are several different types of scleroderma that can vary in severity. Some types are relatively mild and may eventually improve on their own, while others can lead to severe and life-threatening problems.
There’s no cure for scleroderma, but most people with the condition can lead a full, productive life. The symptoms of scleroderma can usually be controlled by a range of different treatments.
There are 2 main types of scleroderma:
localised scleroderma – just affects the skin
systemic sclerosis – may affect blood circulation and internal organs as well as the skin
Localised scleroderma is the mildest form of the condition. It often affects children, but can occur at any age.
This type just affects the skin, causing 1 or more hard patches to develop. Internal organs aren’t affected.
Exactly how the skin is affected depends on the type of localised scleroderma. There are 2 types, called morphoea and linear.
Morphoea:
discoloured oval patches on the skin
can appear anywhere on the body
usually itchy
patches may be hairless and shiny
may improve after a few years and treatment may not be needed
Linear:
thickened skin occurs in lines along the face, scalp, legs or arms
occasionally affects underlying bone and muscle
may improve after a few years, although can cause permanent growth problems, such as shortened limbs
In systemic sclerosis, internal organs can be affected as well as the skin. This type mostly affects women and usually develops between 30 and 50 years of age. Children are rarely affected.
There are 2 types of systemic sclerosis:
limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis
diffuse systemic sclerosis
Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis:
a milder form that only affects skin on the hands, lower arms, feet, lower legs and face, although it can eventually affect the lungs and digestive system too
often starts as Raynaud’s (a circulation problem where fingers and toes turn white in the cold)
other typical symptoms include thickening of the skin over the hands, feet and face, red spots on the skin, hard lumps under the skin, heartburn and problems swallowing (dysphagia)
tends to get gradually worse over time, although it’s generally less severe than diffuse systemic sclerosis and can often be controlled with treatment
Diffuse systemic sclerosis:
is more likely to affect internal organs
skin changes can affect the whole body
other symptoms can include weight loss, fatigue, and joint pain and stiffness
symptoms come on suddenly and get worse quickly over the first few years, but then the condition normally settles and the skin may gradually improve
In some cases of systemic sclerosis, organs such as the heart, lungs or kidneys are affected. This can cause a range of potentially serious problems, such as shortness of breath, high blood pressure and pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs).
Normally, the body’s immune system fights off any germs that infect the body. It responds like this to anything in the body it doesn’t recognise, and settles down when the infection has been cleared.
It’s thought scleroderma occurs because part of the immune system has become overactive and out of control. This leads to cells in the connective tissue producing too much collagen, causing scarring and thickening (fibrosis) of the tissue.
It’s not clear why this happens. Certain genes are thought to be involved, and having a close family member with the condition may increase your risk.
The aim of treatment is to relieve symptoms, prevent the condition getting worse, detect and treat any complications (such as pulmonary hypertension) and help you maintain the use of affected parts of the body.
Common treatments include:
medication to improve circulation
medicines that reduce the activity of the immune system and slow the progression of the condition
steroids to relieve joint and muscle problems
moisturising affected areas of skin to help keep it supple and relieve itchiness
various medicines to control other symptoms (such as pain, heartburn and high blood pressure)
You will also need regular blood pressure checks and other tests to check for any problems with your organs.
If your symptoms are severe, surgery may be needed. For example, hard lumps under the skin may need to be removed, and tightened muscles may need to be loosened.
Newer treatments such as laser therapy and photodynamic therapy are currently being trialled, and may improve the outcome of the condition for many people.
There are many therapies and lifestyle changes that can help reduce the impact of scleroderma on your life.
Regular physiotherapy and stretching exercises may help keep your muscles supple and loosen tight skin.
An occupational therapist can help you adapt to any movement difficulties by suggesting changes to your home and advising you on equipment to make daily life easier.
If you’re affected by Raynaud’s, you’ll need to keep your hands and feet warm in the cold by wearing thick gloves and socks. Read more about treating Raynaud’s.
It’s important to eat healthily, exercise regularly and stop smoking (if you smoke) to keep blood pressure under control and improve your circulation. Read more about controlling high blood pressure.
Many people find it helps to read up on the condition and talk to other people who are affected. Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK (SRUK) is dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by scleroderma and Raynaud’s.
Women with systemic sclerosis may find it harder to get pregnant and could have a slightly higher risk of miscarriage and giving birth prematurely.
However, if the pregnancy is planned in consultation with a doctor during a period when the condition is stable, there’s no reason why a woman with systemic sclerosis cannot have a successful pregnancy.
Scleroderma and Raynaud’s UK has more information about systemic sclerosis and pregnancy.
For a third year, the Urology Care Foundation, American Urological Association (AUA) and the Bladder Health Alliance – a coalition of groups representing physicians, patients and veterans – are drawing on the month of November to raise awareness about bladder conditions and encourage individuals to take an active role in managing their bladder health.
Millions of Americans struggle with the impacts of such bladder conditions and disease as urinary incontinence, overactive and underactive bladder, interstitial cystitis, urinary tract infections, nocturia, bedwetting, bladder cancer and neurogenic bladder, on a daily basis. These conditions have a significant impact on an individual’s health and quality of life, and result in substantial health costs (estimated to be more than $70 billion per year).
“Raising bladder health awareness and encouraging men and women to talk about their bladder health symptoms is a critical first step in eliminating the stigma associated with bladder-related conditions and disease,” said Harris Nagler, MD, President of the Urology Care Foundation. “It’s important for individuals to talk to their healthcare provider about what’s bothering them, including changes in their urinary function or urinary symptoms. Many times these conditions can be treated through simple lifestyle changes, oral medical treatments, diet and exercise.”
To support participation in Bladder Health Month, a number of downloadable resources – including fact sheets, posters, social media messages and patient brochures – are available on the Urology Care Foundation Bladder Health Month Resource Center. Additionally, the Foundation, AUA and organizations within the Bladder Health Alliance, will use the following weekly themes to connect, educate and inspire people across the country to get the facts, get diagnosed and take control of their Bladder Health:
November 1 – 3 | Bladder Health Overview
November 4 – 10 | Interstitial Cystitis, Neurogenic Bladder & Bladder Infection/UTI
November 11 – 17 | Bladder Cancer
November 18 – 24 | Incontinence, OAB & SUI
November 25 – 30 | Bedwetting & Nocturia
Bladder Health Month officially begins Thursday, November 1. The Urology Care Foundation has developed a web pagewith resources for the public, in addition to its Twitter (hashtag #BladdersMatter), Facebook, Pinterest and Instagramplatforms to disseminate this information for public use and dialogue.
In 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recognized the Urology Care Foundation, as the official sponsor of this National Health Observance. The Foundation aims to support and improve the prevention, detection and treatment of urologic diseases through research and education.
This animation describes the cause, symptoms, and factors in the development of Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
How to figure out if there’s something wrong about your health? It’s often enough to look in the mirror. External changes can signal the beginning of a serious illness inside. So pay particular attention to these 11 symptoms of internal problems that show up right on your face! When it comes to health issues, early detection is key.
TIMESTAMPS:
Discoloration of the skin around the mouth and nose 1:06
Extremely sensitive, glossy, or bulging eyes 1:49
Eyelashes that have become thicker and longer 2:35
A puffy face 3:12
Soft yellowish spots on the eyelids 3:49
Eyelid swelling and peeling 4:43
Itchy ears 5:22
Sudden facial asymmetry 6:07
Rashes and red blotches on the face 6:56
A receding chin 7:44
Out-of-control facial hair growth 8:11