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.

¿Qué es la fibromialgia? La fibromialgia es un trastorno crónico (de larga duración) que causa dolor y sensibilidad en todo el cuerpo. También puede hacer que se sienta demasiado cansado (fatiga) y que tenga problemas para dormir. Los médicos no comprenden completamente qué causa la fibromialgia, pero las personas con el trastorno son más sensibles al dolor.

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.

What is ankylosing spondylitis? Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in certain parts of the spine. Over time, this inflammation in the joints and tissues of the spine can cause stiffness. In severe cases, this may cause the bones in the spine to grow together, which can lead to a rigid spine that is difficult to bend. Many people with ankylosing spondylitis have mild episodes of back pain and stiffness that come and go. But others have severe, ongoing back pain and stiffness. Other symptoms also may develop if other areas of the body are affected

¿Qué es la espondilitis anquilosante? La espondilitis anquilosante es un tipo de artritis que causa inflamación en ciertas partes de la columna vertebral. Con el tiempo, esta inflamación en las articulaciones y los tejidos de la columna puede causar rigidez. En casos graves, esto puede hacer que los huesos de la columna crezcan juntos, lo que puede ocasionar una columna rígida que es difícil de doblar. Muchas personas con espondilitis anquilosante tienen episodios leves de rigidez y dolores de espalda esporádicos. Pero en otros casos, hay rigidez y dolores de espalda severos y continuos. También pueden presentarse otros síntomas si

What are growth plate injuries? The growth plate is the area of tissue near the ends of long bones in children and teens that determines what length and shape the bone will be once it is done growing. Each long bone— the thigh bone, the bones in the forearm, and the bones in the hands and fingers—has at least two growth plates, one at each end. Once your child has finished growing, the growth plates close and are replaced by solid bone. The growth plates are weak areas of your child’s growing skeleton, making it easier to injure them. Injuries

¿Qué son las lesiones en las placas de crecimiento? Las placas de crecimiento son las áreas de tejidos cerca de los extremos de los huesos largos en los niños y los adolescentes que determinan qué longitud y forma tendrá el hueso una vez que ha terminado de crecer. Cada uno de los huesos largos (los huesos de los muslos, los antebrazos, las manos y los dedos) tiene al menos dos placas de crecimiento, una en cada extremo. Una vez que su hijo haya terminado de crecer, las placas de crecimiento se cierran y son reemplazadas por hueso sólido. Debido a