Treatments

Scleroderma Treatments

While there is no cure for scleroderma, Northwestern Medicine specialists help patients find relief from the symptoms, and slowing down the damage caused by the disease, using a variety of approaches.

If you are diagnosed with scleroderma, your treatment plan will be based on several factors, including:

• Your age, overall health and medical history
• The extent of the condition
• Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures and therapies
• The expectation for the course of the disease
• Your opinion or preference

Treatment may include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications or corticosteroids to relieve pain
• Immunosuppressive medications, such as penicillamine to slow the skin thickening process and delay damage to internal organs
• Treating specific symptoms, such as heartburn and Raynaud's phenomenon, a condition in which some areas of your body feel numb and cool in certain circumstances
• Physical therapy and exercise to maintain muscle strength