Morphea

[paranoid?]

Hi Doctor,

I posted about a month or so ago.  I had two rashes, one on my right upper arm (brown pigmentation)had for at least 3-4 years, and a faint red/purplish rash on my left buttock, had for a couple of months.  I went to the dermatologist and she did a biopsy and told me it was morphea.  I had all kinds of blood test (ANA, CBC, etc) which all came back negative.  The dermatolgoist sent me to a rhuematologist, who checked me and told me it was a light case of morphea.  

Well here is my new problem.  I am noticed on both sides of my neck and part of my cheeks I am breaking out, kinda of brown.  I went to see my PCP, who told me it might be morphea.  But I've been stressed out lately too.  It looks like pimples around the skin.  He gave me a cream called, triaz cleanser.

If it is morphea that would mean I have it on four places of my body.  Isn't this not common and now should I be scared about schledorma?  I am going to see a dermatologist but not until next week and I am nervous.  Can nerves cause this kind of breakout?

Please answer my questions.  Thank you

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Yes.  I very much doubt that the neck and cheek rash has anything to do with morphea--too rapid, too symmetrical, wrong description, and so forth.  Just because you have morphea in one place doesn't mean you can't get ordinary, garden-variety rashes in other places, which is what I think you'll find when you see the doctor.  Also, morphea does not lead to systemic scleroderma.  Ask your dermatologist to confirm this and discuss it with you.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[renee1952]

I have systemic sclerosis and you can be quite thankful that you have morphea instead of that. Morphea is also called localized scleroderma where as systemic sclerosis is called, in my case, diffuse systemic sclerosis..It is called that because it effects all organ systems. I have tremendous GI involvment including barrett's esophagus with dysplasia. I have had surgery on my esophagus to lengthen it and to try and stop reflux and still I have many dilations to break thru the scar. My lower GI is so slow from fibrosis that it takes miralax and zelnorm both twice daily to make anything happen..I have pulmonary hypertension as well as systemic hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and lung fibrosis, I've had surgery on both knees for the joint pains before we even know I had SS. I have alos had jaw surgery because of excrutiating pains from fibrosis..My skin involvement is quite minimal in the big picture of things.. I have rashes on my upper chest and arms and the fleshy area of my palms and fingers with hardened skin in those area, and on my face...I saw a Scleroderma specialist at John Hopkins who seems to be the only one in the country whose specialty is solely systemic sclerosis. He is very good and commnicates with my local rheumatologist about my treatments..I think you should ask many questions of your Dr. because Im not sure why or how you think morphea is systemic sclerosis....World of difference between localized sclerodema and systemic sclerosis..Best of luck, renee

[paranoid?]

Thank you for you comment.  Everyone (PCP, rhuemotologist and dermatologist) is telling me that it is not the same and I dont have it.  I guess I am just paranoid and shouldn't be.  I just want to the dermo about the rash on my neck and she told me it was acne.  So tell me I ain't paranoid.  I know I need to stop worrying myself.

I pray that God will be with you always. Thanks again.