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Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment |
Psoriatic Arthritis TreatmentPsoriasis is a skin infection that affects many people in the United States.
It is more common among whites and less frequent among African American and Native American people. Psoriasis manifests itself in the form of patchy, raised, reddish areas of skin inflammation with a scaly appearance. People who suffer from psoriasis may eventually develop psoriatic arthritis.
This form of arthritis affects approximately seven per cent of people who are suffering from psoriasis.
The cause behind psoriatic arthritis is unknown. Medical research is being carried out in many nations in an attempt to find out why this disease manifests itself. Until a cure is found, treatment is carried out for the various symptoms associated with psoriatic arthritis.
In addition to psoriasis, people suffering from psoriatic arthritis may develop inflammation in joints such as the knees, ankles, and feet. The affected areas are swollen, painful and tender, and a certain amount of stiffness may be experienced when moving the joint. Other symptoms include tendonitis, chest pain, inflammation in the eyes, lungs, and aorta, and appearance of acne and pitting on the nails.
Men may also suffer from an inflammation of the spine or hip bones.
If you are suffering from psoriasis and experience any of these symptoms, it is a good idea to undergo an in-depth medical examination to check for signs of psoriatic arthritis. In most cases, a thorough physical examination is sufficient to confirm the presence of this disease.
Your physician may ask you to undergo x-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to better confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment for psoriatic arthritis aims to reduce the inflammation of both the skin and the affected joints. For treating the skin, your physician will prescribe the topical application of ointments such as corticosteroids, vitamin D-3 derivatives, coal tar, anthralin, or retinoids. Joint inflammation is treated by administering non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen.
In some cases the NSAID may aggravate the inflammation of the skin, in which case you should consult your physician so that he or she can prescribe an NSAID with fewer side effects. Phototherapy is also widely used in cases very the psoriasis of skin is acute. If both the topical ointments and phototherapy fail to retard the progress of psoriasis, your physician may prescribe a systemic drug such as Psoralen, Etanercept, Methotrexate, or Cyclosporine. Surgery may be considered as an option in cases where the arthritis has severely damaged a joint.
Frequent exercise is an important preventive method to retard the progress of psoriatic arthritis. Regular exercise improves movement, strengthens muscles, and stabilizes the joints. Heat and cold treatments can also temporarily reduce pain and swelling in the joint.
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