Scleroderma

Scleroderma means, literally, "hard skin." It occurs when cells called fibroblasts, concentrated in the skin but also found in other organs, begin to replicate overtime.

The fibroblasts crank out a connective tissue called collagen. "They literally overgrow parts of the body with collagen, the same way these cells would form new tissue to heal a wound," says Richard Silver, M.D., head of the rheumatology division at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Unfortunately, the excess collagen isn’t needed for anything. It just messes things up.

No one knows exactly what triggers scleroderma, but "it is considered an autoimmune disorder, meaning that something is wrong with a person’s immune system," Dr. Silver says. Certain immune cells secrete chemicals that make the fibroblasts more active than they should be. Genetics and environment both play roles. "Some cases may have been triggered by exposure to organic solvents such as trichloroethylene, a solvent that’s used mainly to degrease machinery but can also be found in drinking water," Dr. Silver says. For many cases, though, no cause is ever found.

The immune system first produces inflammation that can make the joints hurt and cause the hands to become puffy. Ultimately, scar tissue forms and makes the skin thick, hard, and shiny. The muscles can become weak, and organs that depend on muscles, such as the esophagus and intestines, can begin to go haywire. Moreover, almost everyone with scleroderma also has Raynaud’s disease, an extreme sensitivity to cold in their hands and feet caused by constricted blood vessels that cut off blood flow to the fingers and toes.

Scleroderma is most often treated with drugs that reduce inflammation and muscle spasms, improve blood flow, or reduce high blood pressure if the kidneys are damaged, Dr. Silver says. "Scleroderma can be controlled somewhat, but not cured."

Alternative treatments for scleroderma include nutritional supplements that help reduce inflammation and improve circulation. Some can also address possible underlying causes, including digestive problems, says Andrew Rubman, N.D., director of the Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines in Connecticut and a consultant to the Office of Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. If you’ve been diagnosed with scleroderma, you should get your doctor’s approval before you take supplements.

Antioxidants against Early Damage

At least in its earlier stages, scleroderma involves inflammation. While tissues are becoming inflamed, your body begins to form an excessive number of free radicals. These are the free-roaming, unstable molecules that cause cell damage.

Antioxidant nutrients such as vitamins E and