Scleroderma is a chronic, degenerative, autoimmune disease that leads to the over-production of collagen in the body's connective tissue. The word "scleroderma" means "hardening of the skin" and refers to one of the possible physical effects of the disease. If systemic (throughout the body), scleroderma is known as progressive systemic sclerosis. Scleroderma has been described in South African gold miners, where it is thought to be related to silica dust exposure. Scleroderma has also been found in jewelry workers and miners who worked with quartz. People who live near airports having a higher incidence of Scleroderma.

Scleroderma symptom and sign
The first warning signs of scleroderma usually involve the skin. Hard round or oval patches may appear on your skin. These patches are usually white with a reddish area around them. They may appear on your chest, stomach, face, arms, legs or other parts of the body. If you have generalized scleroderma a larger area of skin will be affected. You may also have other warning signs. Small white chalky lumps may form under your skin. These lumps usually form around the fingers but can occur anywhere in the body. If these break through your skin a chalky white material might ooze out. Your fingers and toes may turn blue and become numb and painful when you are cold or upset. You could have trouble swallowing or get heartburn.

Natural Scleroderma Treatment
Hardly any research is available regarding the treatment of scleroderma with natural herbs and nutrients. However, some lab studies are beginning to be done regarding the benefit of herbal extracts. One such herb being evaluated is curcumin. Little is known whether taking a curcumin supplement would have an influence on the actual clinical picture of scleroderma.

Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2013. Increased level of lipid peroxidation products and disturbances in oxidation-reduction balance in erythrocytes from patients suffering from systemic sclerosis, who are chronically treated with vitamin E. In view of the reports of essential role of oxidative stress in development of disease, trials with supportive care with vitamin E are undertaken. The aim of the study was to estimate parameters of oxidation-reduction balance in erythrocytes from scleroderma patients, who were chronically treated with vitamin E compared with healthy controls. In scleroderma patients despite chronical treatment with vitamin E, oxidation-reduction balance disturbances are observed in the form of increased level of lipid peroxidation products. Besides, a lower activity of catalase and superoxide dysmutase in patients who suffer from diffuse form of systemic sclerosis is noted. Patients with limited systemic sclerosis have higher glutathione peroxidase activity.