The scleroderma skin pinch test checks the thickness and elasticity of your skin. It can help doctors diagnose and monitor scleroderma, an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation and thickening of the skin. Systemic sclerosis, or systemic sclerosis, is a type of scleroderma that involves internal organs.
The scleroderma skin pinch test involves a medical professional gently pinching your skin between their finger and thumb to estimate its thickness.
They assess your skin based on the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), providing a score from 0 to 3. A score of 0 means that your skin is pliable with no thickening. A score of 3
If you require the skin pinch test, your doctor may lightly pinch the skin on your:
- hands
- arms
- legs
- feet
- abdomen
- chest
- face
Each part of your body will receive a score. Your doctor will then combine the scores to reach the total score, which estimates the overall thickness of your skin.
Doctors may recommend the scleroderma skin pinch test if you have symptoms of systemic scleroderma. The test can also help monitor the condition and responses to treatment if you have already received a scleroderma diagnosis.
Symptoms can depend on the type of scleroderma. Localized scleroderma, or morphea,
In general, your doctor may recommend the scleroderma skin pinch test if you develop patches of thickened skin or if you have already received a scleroderma diagnosis. The thickened skin may have a waxy appearance.
It is unlikely that a doctor will diagnose scleroderma based on the skin test alone. Other tests they may recommend to diagnose or monitor scleroderma
- blood tests to check for antibodies
- skin biopsy
- computerized tomography (CT) scan to look at the lungs and other organs
- pulmonary function tests to check lung function
- echocardiogram to create pictures of the heart