Scleroderma is a systemic disease of connective tissue, the essence of which is a progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. It comes in two forms - generalised and diffuse. In terms of skin lesions, the most common lesions that develop are oedematous or atrophic, usually in the hands and face.

A characteristic feature of generalised scleroderma is the presence of Raynaund's sign, which may appear even several years before the onset of scleroderma symptoms.