There are more than a hundred different types of arthritis. One of them is Psoriatic arthritis. This specific type is linked with psoriasis which is a chronic skin and nail disease. Usually, psoriasis can cause red, scaly rashes on the skin. It can also cause pitted fingernails.
Symptoms & Causes
Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis usually include inflamed, swollen and painful joints. These symptoms often appear in the fingers and the toes. Deformed joints due to chronic inflammation is another symptom to look out for.
There are also some symptoms that disguises itself as other health conditions. The best way to get a proper diagnosis is by seeing a medical health professional.
In addition to that, the cause of psoriatic arthritis is also difficult to pinpoint. However, there are multiple factors that come into play. This may include the environment, immunity, and genes.
Psoriatic Arthritis Treatments
After getting proper diagnosis from a medical health professional, patients who have psoriatic arthritis are prescribed different varieties of treatments. The treatment varies depending on the current state of the patient.
While there is still no known cure for psoriatic treatments, doctors may prescribe different treatments to help control the symptoms.
Treatments may include medications such as Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs or NSAIDs. These will help reduce the pain and inflammation.
Another class of medications is Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs, or DMARDs, which can help slow the progression of psoriatic arthritis. The type of medication can help in saving the joints and other tissues by preventing any further damage.
Immunosuppressants may also be prescribed to help manage the immune system, as well as biologic agents or biologic response modifiers. For more severe cases, surgical procedures, including joint replacement surgery, may be the best treatment option. Some patients also take steroid injections to reduce the inflammation in a quicker manner.
You can buy some of the above medications over-the-counter from your local drugstore. However, it’s still best to see a doctor to help manage the symptoms better and prevent further damage to your health.
