Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis): How it Affects the Body

According to the Scleroderma Foundation, scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a chronic connective tissue disease. It is generally classified as an autoimmune disease. The symptoms of scleroderma vary greatly from person to person and not all patients develop all complications.

Symptoms of scleroderma may be visible, as is the case when the skin is affected, or the symptoms may be invisible, as when internal organ systems are affected.