Your medical questions answered
Virgin Money London Marathon 2021
I have been diagnosed with diffuse systemic sclerosis and Raynaud’s. My hair is falling out quite drastically, is this due to the disease and the possible stress and what can I do to help please? Secondly, I keep seeing pictures of digital ulcers, and I wondered what I can do to prevent this from happening?
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RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT ULCERATION, OR SKIN BREAKDOWN ON THE FINGERTIPS, CAN AFFECT UP TO HALF OF PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS AT SOME POINT IN THEIR DISEASE. IT CAN BE TREATED WITH DRUGS TO REDUCE ULCER FORMATION AND ENCOURAGE HEALING. THESE INCLUDE TABLET TREATMENTS AS WELL AS HOSPITAL-BASED INTRAVENOUS (“DRIP”) THERAPIES IN SOME CASES, SUCH AS ILOPROST. LOCAL MEASURES TO IMPROVE SKIN TEXTURE AND TREAT THE INFECTION OF ULCERS ARE ALSO IMPORTANT.
If you have a question you would like to ask Professor Denton, or you would like to comment on any of the answers given, please email
info@sruk.co.uk
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Systemic sclerosis has different forms and so it is important to understand your condition and I would really recommend all the great information available for patients from SRUK and through patient-centred activities and meetings. Hair loss can occur in many diseases or be related to medical conditions or to treatment with certain drugs, such as immune suppressants. It is therefore important to bring this to the attention of your clinical team in case there are specific tests or treatments to consider. Research has shown that ulceration, or skin breakdown on the fingertips, can affect up to half of patients with systemic sclerosis at some point in their disease. It can be treated with drugs to reduce ulcer formation and encourage the healing of ulcers. These include tablet treatments as well as hospitalbased intravenous (“drip”) therapies in some cases, such as iloprost. Local measures to improve skin texture and treat the infection of ulcers are also important.
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Lisa, Heather, Cat and Vicky
THE VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2021 ON 3RD OCTOBER, THE 40TH VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON WAS FINALLY ABLE TO TAKE PLACE. We were thrilled that we could be there to support our incredible team of runners who took on this challenge to raise vital funds for SRUK. The atmosphere on the day was truly uplifting, with runners, families and supporters finally able to come together after having waited so long. But the marathon did not just take place in London, as many participants completed the event ‘virtually’ from all over the UK. As well as our team of seven SRUK runners who joined us in London, we also had three virtual runners who took on the same epic distance a little bit closer to home.
We set up our cheer station close to Mile 22 and stood at the barrier as the crowds grew around us, ready to greet and support our runners as they neared the finish line. The day started out a little chilly and grey, but the sun came out mid-morning and stayed with us for most of the day until a sudden, torrential downpour later in the afternoon. Luckily, the black clouds quickly parted, and once again we were standing in glorious sunshine as we greeted some of our runners as they passed us by.
SRUK even got on the radio! Our very own Gemma and Jess were delighted to have the opportunity to talk to a reporter from BBC Radio London, who approached us at the race-side as we stood cheering. They were able to give a detailed interview to raise awareness about Scleroderma and Raynaud’s, as well as the work of the charity and why we are so grateful to all of our runners for raising vital funds that will help us to continue our work.
Approaching Mile 22
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