Understanding sclerosing skin disease
Morphea and scleroderma are often confused with each other, and rarely explained well. This site highlights what they are, how they differ, and what to ask your doctor — written by the dermatologist who treats them.
Written and reviewed by Heidi Jacobe, MD, MSCS, Professor of Dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Where to start
The same material is organised four ways, depending on why you are here. Nothing below is behind a form or a login.
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Patients and families
Newly diagnosed, or supporting someone who is. Start with the difference between morphea and scleroderma, then how to prepare for an appointment.
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Linear morphea in depth
The long read: activity versus damage, how risk depends on depth and location, treatment, and the myths worth discarding.
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Clinicians
Early recognition, longitudinal tracking, and referral thresholds, organised for real-world practice.
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Support products
Non-treatment items that may help with comfort and daily routine. Support is not the same as treatment.
Two conditions, one distinction
These two terms get used interchangeably online. They are not the same condition, and the difference decides almost everything else about your care.
Stays in the skin
Morphea
A localised form of sclerosing skin disease. It affects the skin and the tissue beneath it, but not the internal organs. Subtypes vary widely, and knowing which one you have matters more than the label itself.
Can involve organs
Scleroderma
A systemic condition that can affect skin, blood vessels, and internal organs. Early recognition and specialist care are especially important, which is why the distinction is worth getting right early.
Who writes this?
Heidi Jacobe, MD, MSCS is a board-certified dermatologist and Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where she has spent more than twenty years caring for children and adults with morphea.
The goal of this website is narrow and practical: reduce confusion, improve the conversation between patients and their care teams, and give anyone affected by these conditions a trustworthy place to start.