Scleroderma Awareness Month – June 1, 2026

Expected Scleroderma Awareness Month Deals

Throughout Scleroderma Awareness Month in June, the focus shifts from commercial deals to crucial fundraising and advocacy efforts. Organizations like the Scleroderma Foundation and the Scleroderma Research Foundation often partner with corporate sponsors for donation-matching campaigns, virtual walks, and direct giving initiatives. Pharmaceutical companies such as Boehringer Ingelheim and Bristol Myers Squibb, actively involved in scleroderma research, may also highlight patient support programs and educational resources. Look for opportunities to round up purchases at participating retailers, or buy branded merchandise where proceeds benefit scleroderma research. We encourage direct donations to support critical breakthroughs. We will update this page with specific campaign details as June approaches.

History of Scleroderma Awareness Month

Scleroderma borrows from the Greek words ‘skleros’ and ‘derma,’ which mean ‘hard skin.’ Hippocrates, the father of medicine, described people affected by this condition around 400 B.C. It wasn’t until the 1700s that doctors began seriously examining this condition. Treatments at the time focused on returning the skin to normal condition and increasing flexibility, using a combination of vapor baths and low doses of quicksilver.

By the late 19th century, physicians had noted the systemic manifestations of scleroderma. Dr. Thomas Addison was the first to describe different types of scleroderma in 1854. Localized scleroderma, which he called morphea, affected the skin tissues but not internal organs. Systemic scleroderma affected the skin, blood vessels, and internal organs. In 1863, Dr. Auguste Gabriel Maurice Raynaud expanded on this with his discovery of Raynaud’s syndrome. This condition interfered with the flow of blood to the fingers and toes, resulting in discoloration, numbness, and pain. Raynaud’s findings inspired the R in CREST syndrome, a form of scleroderma. Today, we now know that around 90% of scleroderma patients have Raynaud’s syndrome.

Since 1998, the National Scleroderma Foundation (N.S.F.) has dedicated itself to educating the public and spreading awareness of this rare autoimmune disease. Sponsored by the N.S.F. and other scleroderma organizations, National Scleroderma Awareness Month seeks to spark a conversation on this disease. This holiday encourages advocacy, fundraising, research, support groups, and public awareness programs for this cause.