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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Morphea (mor-FEE-uh) is a rare skin condition that causes reddish or purplish patches on your skin. Morphea is a localized or limited form of scleroderma, a condition that can cause a wide variety of problems, from skin discoloration to difficulty with the function of joints and muscles and other connective tissues.
Morphea typically appears on your abdomen, chest or back, but it can affect your face, arms and legs. Morphea tends to affect only the outermost layers of your skin — the dermis and the fatty tissue just beneath the dermis. Sometimes, morphea can restrict movement in your joints.
Morphea generally subsides on its own over time. With morphea, you may be concerned about your appearance. Your doctor may recommend medications and other treatments to help with your appearance and other symptoms of morphea.
- Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2968193. Accessed Aug. 7, 2012.
- Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 5th ed. Edinburgh, U.K.; New York, N.Y.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..X0001-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&uniqId=230100505-57. Accessed Aug. 7, 2012.
- Scleroderma. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Scleroderma/default.asp. Accessed Aug. 7, 2012.
- Localized scleroderma. Scleroderma Foundation. http://www.scleroderma.org/pdf/Medical_Brochures/Localized.pdf. Accessed Aug. 7, 2012.
- Badea I, et al. Pathogenesis and therapeutic approaches for improved topical treatment in localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis. Rheumatology. 2009;48:213.
- Morphea. National Institutes of Health. http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/Condition/10485/Morphea.aspx. Accessed Aug. 7, 2012.
- Valanclene G, et al. Pathogenesis and treatment modalities of localized scleroderma. Medicina (Kaunas). 2010;46:649.
- Fett NM. Morphea: Evidence-based recommendations for treatment. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 2012;78:135.
- Zancanaro PCQ, et al. Localized scleroderma in children: Clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia. 2009;84:1.
- Mild psoriasis: Non-steroidal prescription topical treatments. National Psoriasis Foundation. http://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/treatments/topicals/non-steroid. Accessed Aug. 7, 2012.
- Prednisone. PubMed Health. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000091/. Accessed Aug. 7, 2012.
- Plaquenil (prescribing information). Bridgewater, N.J.: Sanofi-Aventis; 2006. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/009768s041lbl.pdf. Accessed Aug. 7, 2012.
- Neoral (prescribing information). East Hanover, N.J.: Novartis; 2009. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/050715s028,050716s029lbl.pdf. Accessed Aug. 7, 2012.
- Methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall). American College of Rheumatology. http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/medications/methotrexate.asp. Accessed Aug. 7, 2012.
- Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/PrintVersion.aspx?cs=MAYO&s=ND. Accessed Aug. 7, 2012.
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