The diagnosis of scleroderma requires extensive clinical tests and an analysis of the patient’s medical history. Doctors will look for symptoms like changes in the skin texture and appearance, swollen fingers and hands, tight skin around the face and mouth, thick patches of skin and so on.

Other symptoms like presence of calcium crystals under the skin and changes in capillaries under the fingernails also alert the doctor to scleroderma. A blood test may be recommended. Most people with this disease show increased levels of two antibodies - Antitopoisomerase-1 and Anti-centromere antibodies. However, the presence of these antibodies does not necessarily indicate scleroderma.

Therefore, blood tests alone will not confirm the disease. Sometimes, doctors may recommend a skin biopsy. A small sample of the skin will be surgically removed and sent for microscopic analysis. This may help confirm scleroderma. A skin biopsy cannot identify whether the disease is systemic or localized. Other organs like bone, lung, heart, kidneys etc will also have to be evaluated before a complete diagnosis is made. Diagnosis is easy when symptoms are pronounced. In some cases, extensive tests will be required before a diagnosis is made. It can take anywhere from a few months to years to make a diagnosis.