[Pigmentation disorders in systemic sclerodermia].

Skin pigmentation changes in systemic sclerosis have been known since the end of the last century. Many different aspects have been described. We report the case of a 48-year-old man with severe progressive systemic sclerosis who presented many different types of pigmentation changes of skin, but particularly a severe hyperpigmentation. This clinical observation suggests that local factors, including repetitive friction, trauma or variations in skin temperature, may influence the development, distribution and severity of pigmentation abnormalities in patients with systemic sclerosis. Physical treatments (connective tissue massage and lymphatic drainage) were very beneficial for our patient (healing of skin ulcerations and decrease of pigmentation.