Clinical resources for real-world practice

Early recognition, longitudinal tracking, and emerging evidence — organised for clinicians who see these patients between everything else.

Scope

This page is a starting point, not a guideline. It does not replace classification criteria or society recommendations.

Key clinical considerations

Early recognition: Early identification of disease subtype and activity meaningfully affects long-term outcomes and patient experience. Skin induration pattern, distribution, and associated features guide classification.
Longitudinal tracking: Standardised monitoring tools support objective assessment of disease activity across visits: mLoSSI and LoSDI for morphea, mRSS for systemic sclerosis. Consistency between visits matters more than the instrument.
Emerging research: What we still do not know, and what is coming, framed for practice. References and links to current literature are updated as the field moves.
Multidisciplinary care: These conditions often benefit from rheumatology, physical therapy, and mental health co-management. Knowing when and to whom to refer is part of comprehensive care, not an admission of uncertainty.

Curated references will be added here as this section grows. To suggest one, use the contact details on the disclosures page.

Planned for this section