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JUNE 2023 | HEALTHINSIGHT.CA
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A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
The Skin We're In ONLINE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
SE RE NA PITT
“Confidence is a journey but I think just believing in yourself is a good place to start.”
TO NI O LAOYE
“Adapting our skincare routine helps us address specific concerns such as increased oiliness and dehydration while maintaining healthy glowing skin throughout the summer.” To read the full interviews with Serena & Toni, visit healthinsight.ca.
Understanding Scleroderma and Knowing How to Support Mental Health For the thousands of Canadians living with scleroderma, understanding the disease and supporting their mental health is critical.
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Dr. Maggie Larché & Dr. Danielle Rice ystemic sclerosis (also known as scleroderma) is a rare and chronic autoimmune disease that affects the body’s connective tissues. It’s characterized by scarring and thickening (sclerosis) of the skin and internal organs. Scleroderma’s exact cause is unknown, but it’s likely triggered by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There’s currently no cure, but there are treatments available to help manage the symptoms and slow the disease’s progression. Physical consequences of scleroderma include scarring of the skin, especially in the hands and face. The scarring can make it difficult to move the affected areas, so performing everyday tasks such as buttoning clothes and holding objects can be challenging. Facial features can change, too. Other symptoms may include joint pain, fingertip ulcers (breaks in the skin that are slow to heal), and gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, reflux, or difficulty swallowing. In more severe cases, scleroderma can also affect
the internal organs, such as the lungs, heart, and kidneys, causing symptoms like shortness of breath and swelling in the ankles.
The importance of connection Given these physical changes, many people with scleroderma face new mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, body image concerns, sleep difficulties, and fatigue. People with scleroderma experience depression at a much higher rate than the general population, but also at a higher rate than people with other chronic medical disorders. An important way to improve mental health is to connect with others living with the same condition. This can provide a sense of hope and community, as well as the social support that’s so beneficial to physical and mental health. Living with scleroderma can be challenging, but with a proper treatment plan and working with their health care provider to effectively manage their symptoms, many people are able to live full and active lives.
Scleroderma is a multi-symptom disease that affects 1 in 2,500 Canadians nationwide. Two of the earliest signs of scleroderma are puffiness of the hands and new onset of cold, white, red, or blue fingers, which is called Raynaud’s phenomenon and which will be experienced by 9 in 10 Canadians with scleroderma.
GASTROINTESTINAL:
8 to 9 out of 10 experience common gastrointestinal symptoms, which include swallowing difficulties, poor absorption of nutrients, constipation, diarrhea, incontinence, and gastroesophageal reflux disease
JOINTS:
3 to 4 out of 10 experience stiff, sore, swollen joints or muscles
KIDNEYS:
1 to 2 out of 10 experience high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine, which can be signs of renal crisis, which may quickly lead to kidney failure
HEART:
1 to 2 out of 10 experience common heart symptoms
LUNGS:
1 to 2 out of 10 get scarring in the lungs, causing significant shortness of breath and/or cough
DRYNESS:
4 to 5 out of 10 experience dry eyes and mouth due to a decrease in secretions from the tear ducts and salivary glands, scleroderma also impacts patients’ teeth
For more information on Scleroderma, visit scleroderma.ca. This article was sponsored by the Scleroderma Society of Ontario.
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