June is National Scleroderma Awareness Month. Throughout the month, there are ways you can become more aware of this autoimmune disease. You can write a letter to your local government to make them aware of the disease, or you can participate in a fundraiser. Even if you just educate yourself about the disease and share that knowledge with one other person, you can make a difference. Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that attacks the skin and certain other organs of the body. It is passed through genetics, but scientists aren't sure exactly how it is passed along. It is not contagious, and the word "scleroderma" literally translates to "hard skin," because this is one of the common symptoms of the disease. The skin can develop discolorations, lesions, and the extremities can even turn different colors than the rest of the skin. Patients usually die from the complications that go along with scleroderma and not the actual skin conditions. More women than men are diagnosed with the disease, but more men die from the disease. Some of the complications that occur in patients are acid reflux, high blood pressure, kidney failure, lung problems, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
