Autoimmune disorders occur when your body’s immune system mistakenly destroys healthy body tissue. In particular, scleroderma involves the hardening and tightening of your skin and connective tissues that provide the body's framework and help keep tissues strong.

The condition, which occurs due to abnormal growth of connective tissue, can vary from mild to severe. In many cases, scleroderma affects only your skin, and symptoms include tightening, thickening and hardening of portions of the skin, and the affected skin patches may appear shiny. In other cases, it can affect your blood vessels, digestive tract, heart, lungs or kidneys.

Symptoms often develop between ages 30 and 50, affecting women more than men.