What should you know about body morphea?

Morphea, also called localised scleroderma, can begin as a pale, pink, purple, or darker patch and later feel firm, thickened, or bound down. Some areas develop a lighter centre with a more noticeable edge. The condition can affect one area or several, and its depth may range from the upper skin to tissues beneath it.

Morphea is different from systemic scleroderma because it is primarily localised to affected skin and nearby tissue. Location matters: lesions crossing a joint, involving the face or scalp, or extending deeply may restrict movement or cause contour changes. Diagnosis is based on examination and sometimes a skin biopsy.

Book a dermatology appointment for a new firm, expanding, discoloured, or tightening patch. Photographing the area in consistent lighting can help show progression. Use gentle moisturiser, avoid picking or aggressive rubbing, and mention pain, itch, reduced movement, or a history of new medicines or injury.

Treatment depends on activity, depth, site, and how much skin is involved. A clinician may consider topical anti-inflammatory care, including [Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors](/treatments/medical-dermatology/topical-calcineurin-inhibitors/), or light treatment such as [Narrowband UVB Phototherapy](/treatments/medical-dermatology/narrowband-uvb-phototherapy/). Active or deeper disease may need a different specialist plan.

Arrange a prompt review if a patch is enlarging, becoming harder, crossing a joint, or causing tightness or reduced movement. Seek faster assessment for changes near the eye, new scalp involvement with hair loss, marked pain, ulceration, or rapidly developing areas. These features can signal a need to assess deeper involvement.

Ask whether the morphea appears active, how deep it is, whether a biopsy or imaging is useful, and what changes should be tracked. Discuss the expected treatment course, skin-care measures, and whether physiotherapy could protect movement near an affected joint.