Psoriatic Arthritis

There are different types of arthritis that are experienced by people all over the world. One of them is Psoriatic Arthritis. What is it? Generally, psoriatic arthritis is a health condition that involves the skin. In fact, there is approximately 2% of the world’s population who suffer from this kind of ailment. Accordingly, 10% of psoriasis patients have the tendency to feel arthritis pain since this is an effect of the skin condition, which is commonly called as psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis disease that is known to be incessant and critical. If this skin condition is not treated immediately, it may cause damage to the joint. In addition, this health condition is deemed as a part of the autoimmune course of the body, wherein the body builds up an immunogenic reaction versus itself. This gives rise to the extensive tenderness and damage.

The Indications

Psoriatic arthritis may ruin the joints in the body, particularly the small joints found in the hands along with the large joints situated at the arms and feet. Once this skin condition attacks the joints located in the fingers, it may cause the fingers to swell up like sausage. And this is very common to this arthritis disease. When the fingernails are affected by this condition, it may result in thickening and yellowing.

More often than not, psoriatic arthritis show signs that tend to relapse and remit. This only means that they may break out and then disintegrate, as they vary depending on the severity. There are also some instances wherein this condition brings about extensive ache and soreness. At times, it may affect the spine, which may cause some problems in bending.

The Causes

The source of psoriatic arthritis is still considered as a mystery. Some medical experts consider it as a condition resulting from genetic flux. Other medical experts believe that it is triggered by external contact to some insects. In some situations, the skin condition occurs once a person is exposed to streptococcal throat disease. This gives rise to the conclusion that psoriatic arthritis is mainly affected by certain factors connected with heredity and the surroundings.

The male and female population is both at risk of acquiring this skin condition. Usually this disease develops in people at the age of 30 to 50. More or less 10% of people with psoriasis are suffering from arthritis. Basically, psoriatic arthritis is diagnosed by means of categorizing its distinctive features. Usually people afflicted with psoriatic arthritis feel ache and distension in their joints.

The Treatment

Since the symptoms of the skin condition may come and go, the psoriatic arthritis may only be treated once the symptoms crop up. Once the symptoms settle down, the treatment may be discontinued. This is in contrast to the treatment of rheumatoid, in which the treatment must be done regularly.  The treatment usually consists of the use of non-steroidal inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen. In some cases, disease modifying anti-rheumatic medicine like sulfasalazine is also taken into consideration. The final option is surgery, which is required to restore the joints that are badly hurt.

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Understanding Psoriatic Arthritis Recommended Resources:

University of Virginia

Cedars-Sinai