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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Morphea is a form of scleroderma, a term that literally means "hard skin." Symptoms of morphea include:
- Hardening of the skin.
- Thickening of the skin.
- Discoloration of the affected skin to look lighter or darker than the surrounding area. Most people develop one or two oval-shaped patches that start out red, purple (lilac-colored) or yellowish and gradually develop a whitish center. Over time the patches may turn a brownish color and eventually they may be an off-white color.
Morphea usually affects only the uppermost layers of your skin, which is known as superficial morphea. But, in some cases morphea may involve fatty or connective tissue below your skin. This is known as morphea profunda.
Morphea may be present all of the time (chronic), or it may come and go (recurrent). However, the condition generally lasts several years and then disappears on its own.
When to see a doctor
If you notice patches of discoloring, hardening or thickening skin, see your doctor. Early diagnosis and treatment may help slow the development of new patches, and allows your doctor to identify and treat complications before they progress.
- Falanga V, et al. Morphea. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2003. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2968193. Accessed March 25, 2010.
- Localized scleroderma. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Maryland Heights, Mo.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00026-2--s0690&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00026-2--s0695&uniq=191199955&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=973634049. Accessed March 25, 2010.
- Scleroderma. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Scleroderma/default.asp. Accessed March 25, 2010.
- Localized scleroderma. Scleroderma Foundation. http://www.scleroderma.org/pdf/Medical_Brochures/Localized.pdf. Accessed March 25, 2010.
- Dovonex (prescribing information). Dublin, Ireland: Leo Laboratories; 2007. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/020611s007,020554s007,020273s009lbl.pdf. Accessed March 25, 2010.
- Prednisone. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed March 26, 2010.
- Franks AG. Skin manifestations of internal disease. Medical Clinics of North America. 2009;93:1265.
- Plaquenil (prescribing information). Bridgewater, N.J.: Sanofi-Aventis; 2006. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/009768s041lbl.pdf. Accessed March 25, 2010.
- Neoral (prescribing information). East Hanover, N.J.: Novartis; 2009. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/050715s028,050716s029lbl.pdf. Accessed March 25, 2010.
- Methotrexate (prescribing information). Fort Lee, N.J.: Dava Pharmaceuticals; 2009. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/008085s063lbl.pdf. Accessed March 25, 2010.
- Yancey KB, et al. Immunologically mediated skin diseases. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2868360. Accessed March 25, 2010.
- Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed March 25, 2010.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 30, 2010.
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