What is scleroderma? Scleroderma is an autoimmune connective tissue and rheumatic disease that causes inflammation in the skin and other areas of the body. This inflammation leads to patches of tight, hard skin. Scleroderma involves many systems in your body. A connective tissue disease is one that affects tissues such as skin, tendons, and cartilage. There are two major types of scleroderma: Localized scleroderma only affects the skin and the structures directly under the skin. Systemic scleroderma, also called systemic sclerosis, affects many systems in the body. This is the more serious type of scleroderma and can damage your blood

What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a long-lasting disorder that causes pain and tenderness throughout the body. It also can cause you to feel overly tired (fatigue) and have trouble sleeping. Doctors do not fully understand what causes fibromyalgia, but people with the disorder are more sensitive to pain.

What are polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis? Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis are closely linked inflammatory disorders. Some people have one of the disorders while others develop both of them. Polymyalgia rheumatica causes muscle pain and stiffness in the shoulders, upper arms, hip area, and sometimes the neck. Giant cell arteritis causes inflammation of arteries, especially those on each side of the head, scalp, and the aorta (the large artery that carries blood from the heart) and its main branches. The main symptoms of this disorder are: Headaches. Scalp tenderness. Jaw pain. Problems with your eyes, which may

What is acne? Acne is a common skin condition that happens when hair follicles under the skin become clogged. Oil and dead skin cells plug the pores, and outbreaks of lesions (often called pimples or zits) can happen. Most often, the outbreaks occur on the face but can also appear on the back, chest, and shoulders. For most people, acne tends to go away by the time they reach their thirties, but some people in their forties and fifties continue to have this skin problem.

什麼是痤瘡？ 痤瘡是常見的皮膚狀況，是由皮膚下面的毛囊堵塞造成的。油脂和死亡的皮膚細胞堵住毛孔，可爆發皮膚病灶（通常稱為粉刺或青春痘）。爆發最常見於面部，但也可出現在背部、胸部和肩部。 大多數人的痤瘡通常會在三十多歲之前消失，但有些人到四十多歲和五十多歲時仍然還有這一皮膚問題

What is reactive arthritis? Reactive arthritis happens when an infection causes joint pain and swelling. A bacterial infection in the digestive or urinary tract or the genitals usually triggers the condition, but arthritis symptoms typically do not start until a few weeks after you have recovered from the infection. The most common features of reactive arthritis are inflammation of the joints (especially the knees and ankles), eyes, and urinary tract, but not everyone gets all three, or they might not happen at the same time.

What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that happens when the tissues in the joint break down over time. It is the most common type of arthritis and is more common in older people. People with osteoarthritis usually have joint pain and, after rest, stiffness (inability to move easily) for a short period of time. The most commonly affected joints include the: Hands (ends of the fingers and at the base and ends of the thumbs). Knees. Hips. Neck. Lower back. Osteoarthritis affects each person differently. For some people, osteoarthritis does not affect day-to-day activities. For others, it causes

何謂骨關節炎？ 骨關節炎是一種關節疾病，是指關節內的組織隨著時間的推移而分解。這是最常見的關節炎類型，而且更常見於年長者。 骨關節炎患者通常有關節疼痛，而且在休息之後有短時間的關節僵直（難以移動）。最常累及的關節包括： 手（手指末端和拇指的起點和末端）。 膝蓋。 髖部。 頸部。 腰部。 骨關節炎對每個人的影響都有所不同。對有些人來說，骨關節炎不影響日常活動。而對其他人而言，骨關節炎會造成劇烈疼痛和殘障。

What is atopic dermatitis? Atopic dermatitis, often called eczema, is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that causes the skin to become inflamed and irritated, making it extremely itchy. Scratching leads to: Redness. Swelling. Cracking. “Weeping” clear fluid. Crusting. Scaling. In most cases, there are times when the disease is worse, called flares, followed by times when the skin improves or clears up entirely, called remissions. Atopic dermatitis is a common condition, and anyone can get the disease. However, it usually begins in childhood. Atopic dermatitis cannot be spread from person to person. No one knows what causes atopic dermatitis. Depending on

何謂異位性皮膚炎？ 異位性皮膚炎通常稱為濕疹。這是一種慢性（長期）疾病，造成皮膚炎症和刺激症狀，導致極度瘙癢。抓撓會引起： 發紅。 腫脹。 皸裂。 滲出透明液體。 結痂。 脫皮。 在大多數情況下，有時病情惡化（稱為急性發作），然後皮膚情況有所改善或症狀完全消失（稱為緩解）。 異位性皮膚炎是一種常見病症，任何人都可能患上。但異位性皮膚炎通常是在兒童期開始出現。異位性皮膚炎不會從一個人傳給另一個人。沒有人知道異位性皮膚炎的病因是什麼。根據症狀的嚴重程度，異位性皮膚炎患者的生活可能並不容易，但治療可幫助控制症狀。

What is gout? Gout is a type of arthritis that causes pain and swelling in your joints, usually as flares that last for a week or two, and then go away. Gout flares often begin in your big toe or a lower limb. Gout happens when high levels of a substance called serum urate build up in your body. When this happens, needle-shaped crystals form in and around the joint. This leads to inflammation and arthritis of the joint. However, many people with high levels of serum urate will not develop gout. With early diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle changes, gout