Morphea

[sarahusesthis]

I was diagnosed with morphea 12 years ago, when I was 8 years old. It startes on my chin and now it in on half my chin, above my lip on the same side, and on the back of my neck and ear on th same side. The thing is, with me the skin isnt any harder, it is just as plyable as the rest. It never was hard. The skin is actually thinner, not thicher. basically there are no sweat glands or hair folicles, and there is no fat between the skin and bone or cartilage. Is it possible that this was a misdiagnosis? Isn't the disease sopposed to go away over time?


This discussion is related to Morphea with Neurological Manifastations????????.

[Isabella1088]

From what I understand the patches may lessen or disappear over time but the person will always have the disease.

Mine fluctuates. I have a huge spot down my left arm, a big blotch across my chest, and a spot on my back. They change colors occasionally and shape but they remain. The original one on my chest has been there for 4 years now and grows and shrinks, but I don't believe the spots will ever truly go away. I have accepted that they are just a part of how my skin is.

My morphea skin is a bit rougher, but is actually more sensitive than the rest of my skin. I have a few spots that have thickened lumps under them which I believe is built up collagen. The disease is quite rare from what I understand. Have you had a biopsy done on the spots?

[Dr_Aparna]

Hi,
Morphea is a medical term for localized scleroderma. The disease involves isolated patches of hardened skin - there generally is no internal organ involvement.
Physicians and scientists do not know what causes morphea. Case reports and observational studies suggest there is a higher frequency of family history of autoimmune diseases in patients with morphea.
Morphea is usually diagnosed by clinical examination. It is often confirmed by skin biopsy. Skin biopsies are usually a very tiny sample of tissue and the procedure is often very quick, easy and with minimal discomfort. Ultrasound has also been found to be useful for the diagnosis of Localized Scleroderma (such as morphea).
Throughout the years, many different treatments have been tried for morphea including topical, intra-lesional, and systemic corticosteroids.
Antimalarials such as hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine have been used. Other immunomodulators such as methotrexate, topical tacrolimus, and penicillamine have been tried.
Ultraviolet A (UVA) light, with or without psoralens have also been tried.
ref:http://www.sclero.org/medical/about-sd/types/morphea.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphea
You could get a biopsy done if you have any doubts.The disease does not go away with time.