Lisa Goodman-Helfand Talks About Her Journey With Scleroderma

Chicago-based writer and Scleroderma News columnist Lisa Goodman-Helfand was just 10 years old when she was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease scleroderma. At the time, and throughout her childhood and adolescence, her parents played down the seriousness of the disease, hoping to protect her.

MORE: How serious is scleroderma?

However, in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Lisa explains that she now thinks that this was the wrong thing to do. The decision her parents took back then may have shielded her, but she wishes that she had been armed with the information to speak to others about the disease she knew so little about.

Lisa is now an active advocate for the disease and uses social media to help highlight scleroderma and the effect it has on those who live with it. In 2015, Lisa launched a social media campaign where she asked women to post a photo of their face without make-up and to tag friends to do the same. The “Face Off for Scleroderma” quickly went viral and helped to raise awareness of the disease. Find out more about the campaign in her article here.

MORE: The history of scleroderma.

Scleroderma News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.