Linear Scleroderma

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am seeking treatment for an apparent linear scleroderma. I am delighted to know there is something that can be done to restore or improve my facial appearance. Is it common for a discoloration of coupe de sabre that was a relatively small discoloration to enlarge and become indented with age? In fact, I was always told I had a birthmark on my forehead! I was shocked when I came across pictures of people with this condition and even more so to see the changes I was experiencing were similar to some of the milder pictures of those with the condition. This “thing” seems to have taken on a life of its own!

A: While I would have to see pictures of it, everything you are describing is consistent with craniofacial linear scleroderma. This craniofacial condition is largely an unknown entity as why it occurs. While usually developing later in children or teens, I have seen cases that did not emerge until adulthood.

While the traditional approach is to wait and have the soft tissue atrophy burn itself out, I prefer to to treat it with fat injections during the active phase in an effort to stop its progression as well as treat the soft tissue defects. This may require more than one session of injectable fat grafting.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana