Overview

Morphea (mor-FEE-uh) is a rare skin condition that causes painless, discolored patches on your skin.

Typically, the skin changes appear on the abdomen, chest or back. But they might also appear on your face, arms or legs. Morphea tends to affect only the outermost layers of your skin. But some forms of the condition also restrict movement in the joints.

Morphea usually subsides on its own over time, though recurrences are common. In the meantime, medications and therapies are available to help treat the skin discoloration and other effects.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of morphea vary, depending on the type and stage of the condition. They include:

• Reddish or purplish oval patches of skin, often on the abdomen, chest or back
• Patches that gradually develop a lighter or whitish center
• Linear patches, especially when on the arms or legs
• A gradual change in the affected skin, which becomes hard, thickened, dry and shiny
• Loss of hair and sweat glands in the affected area over time

Morphea usually affects only the skin and underlying tissue and, rarely, bone. The condition generally lasts several years and then disappears on its own. But it usually leaves some patches of darkened or discolored skin.

When to see a doctor

If you notice reddish patches of hardening or thickening skin, see your doctor. Early diagnosis and treatment may help slow the development of new patches and allow your doctor to identify and treat complications before they worsen.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Causes

The causes of morphea are unknown. It may be due in part to an unusual reaction of the immune system. Or it may be triggered by:

• Radiation therapy
• Repeated trauma to the affected area
• A recent infection, such as measles or chickenpox

The condition isn't contagious.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Diagnosis

Your doctor may diagnosis morphea by examining the affected skin and asking you about your signs and symptoms. He or she may take a small sample of the affected skin (skin biopsy) for examination in the laboratory. This may reveal changes in your skin, such as thickening of the collagen in the second layer of skin (dermis). Collagen is a protein that makes up your connective tissues, including your skin. It helps make your skin elastic and resilient.

It's important to distinguish morphea from systemic scleroderma, so if you have morphea, your doctor will likely refer you to a specialist in skin disorders (dermatologist) or diseases of the joints, bones and muscles (rheumatologist).

If your child has head and neck morphea, take him or her in for regular comprehensive eye exams, as morphea may cause unnoticeable yet irreversible eye damage.

Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be useful in monitoring disease progression and how it is responding to treatment.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Complications

Morphea can cause a number of complications, including:

• Self-esteem issues. Morphea can have a negative effect on your self-esteem and body image, particularly if discolored patches of skin appear on your arms, legs or face.
• Movement problems. Morphea that affects the arms or legs can impair joint mobility.
• Widespread areas of hardened, discolored skin. Numerous new patches of hard, discolored skin may seem to join together, a condition known as generalized morphea.
• Eye damage. Children with head and neck morphea may experience unnoticeable, permanent eye damage.

Alternative medicine

Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) is an oral medication that has been used to treat morphea. But it hasn't been proved to reduce skin symptoms in clinical trials. If you're interested in trying PABA, discuss its proper use with your doctor.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Lifestyle and home remedies

Because morphea dries the affected skin, moisturizers may help soften and improve the feel of your skin. It's a good idea to avoid long, hot showers or baths, as these can dry your skin.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Coping and support

Because morphea affects your appearance, it can be an especially difficult condition to live with. You may also be concerned that it will get worse before it goes away.

If you want counseling or support, ask your doctor for a referral to a mental health professional or contact information for a support group in your area.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Risk factors

Certain factors may affect your risk of developing morphea, including:

• Your sex and age. Females are more likely to develop morphea than are males. The condition can affect people at any age. It usually appears between the ages of 2 and 14 or in the mid-40s.
• Your race. Morphea is more prevalent among Caucasians.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com