What is deep morphea?

Deep morphea encompasses a variety of clinical entities in which inflammation and sclerosis are found in the deep dermis, panniculus, fascia, or superficial muscle.

What does skin morphea look like?

Morphea is a rare skin condition characterized by small red or purple patches that develop firm white or ivory centers. The affected skin becomes tight and less flexible. Morphea (mor-FEE-uh) is a rare condition that causes painless, discolored patches on your skin.

Is morphea serious?

Morphea is a rare skin condition that will usually only affect the appearance of the skin and will go away without treatment. However, in more severe cases, morphea can cause mobility issues or deformities. In children, morphea can cause eye damage and problems with limb growth and movement.

What autoimmune disease causes morphea?

It is thought to be isolated to the skin without internal organ involvement as seen in systemic sclerosis (commonly known as scleroderma). Morphea is an autoimmune disorder (such as type I diabetes, lupus, vitiligo, or multiple sclerosis, among others).

Is morphea always scleroderma?

Morphea, in fact, is only one particular type of localized scleroderma. It is important to understand that localized scleroderma is different from the form of scleroderma which affects internal organs, called systemic sclerosis or, often incorrectly stated, as systemic scleroderma.

How do you stop the spread of morphea?

Treatment

Medicated creams. Your doctor may prescribe a vitamin D cream, such as calcipotriene, to help soften the skin patches.
Light therapy. For severe or widespread morphea, treatment may include the use of ultraviolet light (phototherapy).
Oral medications.
Physical therapy.

How do you treat morphea at home?

However, some treatments can reduce symptoms and provide morphea itch relief.

Moisturize your skin. The main morphea symptoms are tight, hard, and dry discolored patches on the skin.
Get out in the sun.
Try phototherapy.
Use a medicated cream.
Avoid itchy situations.

Does morphea make you tired?

Patients with generalized morphea may experience fatigue and joint pain. Patients with generalized and pansclerotic morphea may experience difficulty with deep breathing, if all of the skin on their chest is involved.

Does sunlight help morphea?

Sun exposure may be helpful for morphea lesions, but do not over do it. Ten to 15 minutes of exposure to midday sunlight two to three times per week may improve the morphea lesions.

What is the difference between morphea and scleroderma?

Scleroderma is a disease of unknown origin that affects the microvasculature and loose connective tissues of the body and is characterized by fibrosis and obliteration of vessels in the skin, lungs, gut, kidneys and heart. Morphea is a localized form of scleroderma and affects primarily just the skin.

What’s the difference between generalized morphea and deep morphiea?

As opposed to generalized morphea, deep morphea is confined to a single or a few anatomic areas. Dermatologic examination shows diffuse binding down of skin over the extremities of the trunk, which is more prominent in the extremities than in the trunk.

What kind of skin does morphea disease cause?

What are the different types of early morphea?

The condition exists on the trunk and sometimes on the extremities and face. There are four different types of morphea, generalized morphea, pansclerotic morphea, linear morphea, and morphea of children. The photo depicts a patient with early morphea on the left leg.

What is the underlying cause of morphea profunda?

Morphea profunda or pansclerotic, which involves also the tissue below the skin and may restrict the joint movement. Do you have updated information on this disease? We want to hear from you. The underlying cause of morphea is poorly understood. Theories on the cause are often drawn from studies of systemic sclerosis.

What is deep morphea?