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Scleroderma means hard skin. It is a group of diseases that causes abnormal growth of connective tissue, the proteins that support your skin and organs. There are two main types. Localized scleroderma affects only your skin. Systemic scleroderma affects your blood vessels and internal organs, as well as your skin. Symptoms of scleroderma include calcium deposits in connective tissues; Raynaud's phenomenon which is the narrowing of blood vessels in the hands or feet; swelling of the esophagus; thick, tight, skin on your fingers and red spots on your hands and face. No one knows what causes scleroderma. It is more common in women. It can be mild or severe. There is no cure, but various treatments can relieve symptoms.
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