Scleroderma is a type of chronic disease that affects the skin. This means it is a condition that does not go away. There are however measures and treatments that can control and manage the early symptoms of scleroderma. The biggest disadvantage of getting affected with scleroderma is that it is an auto immune disease. This means that the immune system prepares a mechanism and fights back one’s own body, thus making it difficult to treat the condition. In case of scleroderma, the immune system prepares a mechanism by producing too much of protein, which makes the skin thick and hard. This is one of the early symptoms of scleroderma. Almost everyone who experiences scleroderma experiences hardening and tightening patches of the skin. The patches may be oval in shape, straight lined and cover a wide area of trunks and limbs. One of the earliest symptoms of scleroderma is numbness in fingers due to cold temperatures and or emotional distress. In addition to this, due to acid reflux, it damages the section of esophagus. People suffering from scleroderma experience problem in absorbing nutrients. This happens because the intestinal muscles are not moving food properly through the intestines. Treating the symptoms of scleroderma In many cases, the early symptoms of scleroderma fade away on their own in three to five years.