Do I Have Morphea?

Do you have reddish or purplish oval patches of skin, often on the abdomen, chest or back?

Do you have patches that gradually develop a lighter or whitish center?

Do you have linear patches, especially on the arms or legs and possibly the forehead or scalp?

Do you have a gradual change in the affected skin, which becomes firm, thickened, dry and shiny?

Have you noticed a lack of hair in the affected area?

Have you noticed that you sweat less in the affected area?

Do you feel fatigued, have a joint pain or do you have limited range of motion in your joints?

Do you have a family history of morphea and other autoimmune diseases (vitiligo, psoriasis, lupus, or thyroiditis)?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have morphea. Morphea is a skin disorder that is characterized by painless, discolored patches of skin that usually appear on the abdomen, chest or back. Sometimes, morphea can affect the face, arms or legs. Morphea is actually a type of scleroderma (hardening of the skin), so the affected parts of the skin become tight and less flexible over time. The exact cause of morphea is unknown. It can be the result of an abnormal immune response, trauma, recurrent infections or radiotherapy. It is more common in Caucasian women. In some cases, morphea can run in families.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have morphea. Morphea is a skin condition that is characterized by well-defined reddish patches on your skin. The center of these patches gradually becomes white or yellowish over time. Morphea mainly affects the outer layers of your skin. However, it can sometimes affect deeper tissues and even bones, causing restricted movements in the joints. You may notice a lack of hair or reduced sweating on the affected area, depending on how far the lesion has progressed. Over time, morphea results in hardening and discoloration of the skin. Diagnosing is based on a skin examination and a skin biopsy.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have morphea. Morphea is a rare skin condition that leads to hardening and discoloration of the skin. There are several types of morphea, depending on the location and depth of the lesion. Morphea can be localized (only one or a few patches), generalized (lesions cover a large part of the body), linear (lesions that are arranged linearly), and pansclerotic (it affects the outer and deeper layers of the skin, and sometimes the bone underneath). There is no cure for this condition. It usually passes spontaneously within 3 to 5 years, sometimes leaving discoloration of the skin.