Scleredema: report of a case

Abstract

We describe a patient with scleredema. Thickened skin was observed in the posterior region of her neck, shoulders, and back. A skin biopsy revealed thickened dermis consisting of numerous thickened collagen bundles. Laboratory data revealed that she was suffering from diabetes mellitus (DM). The skin lesions ameliorated within a period of one month when her DM condition was controlled by oral hypoglycemics. Scleredema is a rare connective tissue disorder; its cutaneous manifestation should be distinguished from scleroderma.