Morphea includes specific conditions ranging from very small plaques only involving the skin to widespread disease causing functional and cosmetic deformities.

[4] This classification scheme does not include the mixed form of morphea in which different morphologies of skin lesions are present in the same individual.

Case reports and observational studies suggest there is a higher frequency of family history of autoimmune diseases in patients with morphea.

[7][8][9] Borrelia burgdorferi infection may be relevant for the induction of a distinct autoimmune type of scleroderma; it may be called "Borrelia-associated early onset morphea" and is characterized by the combination of disease onset at younger age, infection with B. burgdorferi, and evident autoimmune phenomena as reflected by high-titer antinuclear antibodies.

[1] Archived 2019-02-03 at the Wayback Machine However, there is limited evidence that UVA‐1 (50 J/cm2), low‐dose UVA‐1 (20 J/cm2), and narrowband UVB differ from each other in effectiveness in treating children and adults with active morphea.