Do patients with morphea commonly evolve into Systemic Sclerosis?
No. A rheumatologic evaluation is helpful in patients with cutaneous sclerosis to identify signs of SSc or other systemic diseases associated with skin thickening (see Question 2). If the clinical evaluation suggests morphea, focus can then be directed toward therapies to help the localized fibrotic disease and reassurance given to the patient regarding the absence of SSc. Rare case reports detailing a transition from morphea to SSc exist (more commonly in pediatric literature), but there is no data to suggest that this occurs more commonly than the incidence rate of SSc in the general population.