How long does it take for scleroderma to go from early to late stage?

Scleroderma usually takes about 5 to 10 years to develop from the early to the late stages and can be divided into a swelling stage, a sclerotic stage, and an atrophic stage. In the early stage of scleroderma, there will be skin lesions showing non-concaveable swelling, which will appear as skin erythema, itchy skin, and swollen fingers like sausages. In the sclerotic phase, the skin becomes thicker, harder, and the fingers look like they are wrapped in leather. At the same time, the skin of the face is damaged, and a “mask face” appears. After about 5 to 10 years, it enters the atrophic stage, also called the late stage. The skin becomes atrophic, smooth and thin. There are also skin breakdowns that do not heal. Scleroderma patients are advised to go to the rheumatology and immunology department of regular hospitals, and follow the doctor’s instructions for standardized diagnosis and treatment.