Ms.Ni, 43, Indonesian, was hospitalized for skin swelling and stiff all over for eight years.

The disease started with swelling skin at her nape eight years ago without any obvious cause and expanded to her upper limbs, face and chest, but no Raynauds phenomenon or pigmentation or lose of pigment. Without knowledge of diagnosis result and prescribed medicines at local hospitals, she suffered from markedly increased body weight, face swelling and stiff skin all over later. When hospitalized, she had such symptoms like swelling and stiff with the skin of her face, nape, both upper limbs and chest, skin hard to be pinched, no wrinkle on face, sweating, short and awkward fingers, no Raynauds phenomenon or pigmentation or lose of pigment, no choking sensation in chest or short breath, no cough or expectoration and no pharyngostenosis.

Based on the above symptoms, medical history and physical signs, she was diagnosed as scleredema. After comprehensive treatment with Chinese herbal medicine to promote blood circulation and dispel blood stasis, Chinese herbal steaming therapy and medicated bath, the symptoms like swelling and stiff skin at posterior nape, movement range of upper limbs and swelling facial skin became rectified somewhat.

Adult scleredema is often originated from diseases like deabetes or hyperthyreosis, with different medical history and varied symptoms, which needs a relatively long time to be cured. Generally speaking however, it is prognosticated better result if the patients are patient and active in cooperation of proper therapeutic medication.