Scleroderma Foundation Rocky Mountain Chapter

Our Three-Fold Mission of Support, Education and Research Support: To help patients and their families cope with scleroderma through mutual support programs, peer counseling, physician referrals and educational information. Education: To promote public awareness and education through patient and health professional seminars, literature and publicity campaigns. Research: To stimulate and support research to improve treatment and ultimately find the cause of and cure for scleroderma and related diseases.

What is Scleroderma? Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a chronic connective tissue disease generally classified as one of the autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The word "scleroderma" comes from two Greek words: "sclero" meaning hard, and "derma" meaning skin. Hardening of the skin is one of the most visible manifestations of the disease. The disease has been called "progressive systemic sclerosis," but the use of that term has been discouraged since it has been found that scleroderma is not necessarily progressive. The disease varies from patient-to-patient.