Linda: Morphea Scleroderma

I am a seventeen year old girl, and I just received the diagnosis of morphea scleroderma. I have five big spots and two small ones. I have a cream from the doctor, and I hope it will help me! But he is not sure it will. I wonder if there are other methods of treatment.

I will do what I can to get the spots to go away or to prevent any new ones. I need all the help I can get.

~ Update February 2002 ~

I have four new spots. The doctor told me the skin condition would burn out after one to two years. I have had morphea for three years and although the new spots are getting worse, the old spots are really better. I wonder when this will stop. Last year I went to Spain for a holiday, and the spots became much better. I think it is the sun! That helped me a lot. I do not think this is too bad with the new spots, but it is not funny when you can see that your skin looks worse and worse. I will not get depressed because of this.

The emails of support I have received have helped me a lot!

~ Update 8-26-02 ~

I want to update my story again, because I have gotten a lot of emails from people who are visiting this site; young girls who have problems with accepting their skin and body and from older women, who want to let me know they care. It is so nice, and it is warming to my heart, to get these emails.

I have also received many emails where someone has told me about a treatment which has helped them. I am very thankful to everyone who is writing to me. I feel a lot more comfortable with my skin disease now. I want to tell anyone who has just started with Morphea, you will get used to it. Suddenly it will be a part of your own identity and yourself.

My spots are still getting worse, but I am looking forward to the day when it will burn itself out. I have heard about some treatment called cortisone and PUVA-treatment. I have tried cortisone, but the doctors do not use PUVA here. Someone told me that vitamin E oil could help, and I will try that.

Thank you for this web site, and thank you all for sharing. May God bless you all!