
Pediatric Localized Scleroderma Diagnosis
The information on this page is intended to help you understand the diagnostic process so that your discussions with your child’s physicians is more focused and productive.
Key Terms to Understand Localized Scleroderma
- Inflammation: active immune system response
- Fibrosis: too much collagen, leading to hard skin
- Atrophy: loss of normal tissues
- Extracutaneous Involvement: when the disease goes deeper than the skin or in areas other than the skin, and affecting tissues like joints, muscle, bone, nerves (when located on the arms or legs); and eye, teeth, nerves, brain (when located on the head).
- Pediatric Rheumatologist: a physician who trained in pediatrics and then completed a fellowship in pediatric rheumatology to be able to diagnose and treat inflammatory musculoskeletal disease, including autoimmune diseases like scleroderma.
- Dermatologist: a physician who has been trained in dermatology and can diagnose and manage diseases of the skin; can be someone focused on skin diseases in children (pediatric dermatologist)

Where to Start
Find Your Path
No two scleroderma journeys are the same, but there are common experiences along the way. No matter where you, your child, or a loved one are in your journey, or the type of scleroderma, the National Scleroderma Foundation can help you find your best path.