The disease characterized by hardening and thickening of the skin is?

• A. Scleroderma
• B. Eczema
• C. Psoriasis
• D. Dermatitis

Answer: (A)

Hardening and thickening of the skin points to scleroderma. The name itself comes from sclero- meaning hard and derma meaning skin, reflecting the fibrotic changes that stiffen and thicken the skin. This skin fibrosis can be localized or part of a broader systemic process, but the defining feature in this description is the leathery, firm texture of the skin.

Eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis involve inflammation with itching, redness, and scaling rather than the pronounced, durable hardening of skin seen in scleroderma, so they don’t fit this description as well.