A connective tissue disease targets the body’s connective tissues, which are the structural materials, mainly the proteins collagen and elastin, that hold the cells of the body together. In connective tissue disease, these proteins are often injured by inflammation. Connective tissue disorders are a family of diseases that can affect the skin, joints, bones, heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and ears. They may be genetic or immunological. Sometimes a dermatologist is the first health care provider to observe the symptoms of these diseases.

These are the major immunological connective tissue disorders that directly affect the skin:

• Lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks parts of the body it normally protects. In lupus, this leads to inflammation and damage to various tissues including skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels and brain. When only the skin is affected, the condition is called discoid lupus. When internal organs as well as skin are affected, the condition is called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). There is currently no cure for lupus, but it is effectively treated with drugs, allowing patients to live active and healthy lives.
   
• Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. The wrist and finger joints are commonly affected but the knees and other body parts may also be involved. Frequent flares may result in long term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and disability. There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but it can be controlled through a combination of drugs, exercise and joint protection techniques.
   
• Scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by hardening and thickening of the skin. There are two major classifications of scleroderma: localized, which affects the skin only, and systemic scleroderma, which affects the blood vessels and internal organs. The symptoms may be mild or severe. Progression of the disease may affect the ability of some patients to carry out everyday tasks. Complications of systemic scleroderma may lead to serious problems of the major organs in the body.  There is no cure for scleroderma, but treatment can relieve its symptoms.
   
• Dermatomyositis is a disease characterized by muscle weakness and a distinctive bluish-purple or reddish skin rash on various parts of the body. It may occur at any age but tends to affect adults between 40 and 60 years of age and children between 5 and 15 years. There is no cure for dermatomyositis, but the symptoms can be treated. During  periods of remission, symptoms spontaneously improve.