According to the Scleroderma Foundation, scleroderma is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by hardening (sclero) of the skin (derma), it may also affect other organs. There is still no cure for scleroderma but effective treatments for some forms of the disease are available.

It can be separated into two major classifications: localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis (SSc). Learn more about the differences between them.

1. Localized Scleroderma: It is characterized by inflammation and thickening of the skin from excessive collagen deposition. Usually, only a few places are affected, such as the skin or muscles, and this form rarely spreads elsewhere.

According to the Scleroderma Foundation, while there is no proven cure for scleroderma, much can be done to prevent, minimize or alleviate its effects and symptoms.