Scleroderma is a connective tissue disorder that displays considerable clinical heterogeneity. This case describes a 12-year-old girl who presented with a localized form of the disease. The consequences were a severe and progressive localized gingival recession affecting two maxillary incisors, a localized lip defect and scarring of the forehead. The case illustrates the difficulties in diagnosis and management of young patients with localized scleroderma.