Sidebar Break

Need Help on Arthritis Psoriasis?

Posted on November 13th, 2008. Filed under: Health.
by Andy Austim

Arthritis psoriasis is also called psoriatic arthritis and is a condition in which both the joints and the skin become inflamed. The psoriasis causes the skin to become red, raised, scaly, and patchy. It is estimated that ten percent of people with psoriasis will also develop inflammatory arthritis. This results in a diagnosis of arthritis psoriasis.

The psoriasis and arthritis usually don’t appear at the same time. In around 80% of the cases of psoriatic arthritis, the psoriasis occurs first. Arthritis happens first in around 15%. The time between the two conditions varies for each individual, but they can appear years apart.

Arthritis psoriasis can occur in both men and women and onset typically happens when the person is in his or her forties or fifties. The cause of psoriatic arthritis is unknown, though it is, in part, a hereditary disease. While treatments are available, there is no cure.

Psoriasis can happen anywhere on the body, but the elbows, knees, and scalp are some of the most commonly affected areas. The arthritis causes joints inflammation. The joints become red, swollen, hot, and painful. The most common joints to be affected by arthritis psoriasis are the knees, ankles, wrists, and hip.

A variety of medications exist to control the inflammation. Your doctor may recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), immunosuppressant medications, or TNF-alpha inhibitors. For severe cases of psoriatic arthritis, immunosupressent medications or TNF-alpha inhibitors may be prescribed. Both are effective but can cause damaging side effects.

Corticosteroids are injected into the joint or may be taken orally. They aren’t prescribed long-term and are good for mild cases of psoriatic arthritis. NSAIDs are also best for short-term usage. They may be over-the-counter such as ibuprofen or prescription. These help reduce pain and swelling. DMARDs are some of the most effective medications at limiting joint damage. They dont, however, work fast and are usually prescribed with a pain killer.

Arthritis psoriasis is a painful condition that can affect your quality of life. Although there are a variety of treatments, many of them contain side effects. Because of this, discuss all of your options with your doctor. New and more effective treatments are always being developed.

About the Author:

Leave a Reply