Skincare Treated

Psoriatic Arthritis – the Basics

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints associated with psoriasis. It affects the joints of the knees, fingers, toes and the spine. To understand the disease, its causes and treatment, let’s find out about psoriatic arthritis and its basics.

Psoriasis and psoriatic Arthritis

Up to 25 per cent of people suffering from psoriasis develop this disease. 

Psoriasis is a common skin condition in which the person has patches of red, inflamed skin with silvery scales. This occurs because the new skin cells are produced at an abnormally fast pace and then collect as scaly patches on the surface.

When learning about psoriatic arthritis and its basics, you need to know that individuals with severe skin psoriasis are more likely to develop psoriatic arthritis than those who don’t have the skin disease.

However, it takes about 10 years for the joint disease to develop after psoriasis surfaces.

Psoriatic arthritis affects both men and women, but the spine is usually affected in men, while the joints are affected in women.  This disease is seen more in Caucasians, and in people between the ages of 30 to 55 years.

What Causes It?

Science is yet to discover what causes psoriatic arthritis. It is suspected to be linked to hereditary, environmental and immune factors.

Children of parents with psoriatic arthritis are very likely candidates for the disease. If one twin develops psoriatic arthritis, there is a 70 per cent likelihood of the other twin also developing the disease.

Environmental conditions implicated are injury and infectious agents such as streptococci and staphylococci.

Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis

People with psoriatic arthritis usually have patches of psoriatic rash, accompanied by itching and burning. In addition, changes are seen in the fingernails and toenails, such as pitting and nail separation.

Pain and swelling is experienced in the joints of both the fingers and toes. In severe cases, the digits get deformed. Pain and inflammation also occur at the point where tendons and ligaments are attached to the bones, such as the heel.

Types of Psoriatic Arthritis

Monoarticular arthritis affects one joint. Oligoarticular arthritis affects a few joints. This type is most commonly seen.

Polyarthritis affects many joints in a symmetrical manner. This type of psoriatric arthritis appears identical to rheumatoid arthritis and affects the joints of the hands, feet, wrists and ankles.

A less common form is arthritis mutilans, which is characterized by severe deformities of the fingers.

Axial disease is very rare and results in arthritis of the spine, chest and sacroiliac joint. This causes pain and stiffness in the neck, breastbone and the lower back.

Psoriatic Arthritis in Children

Children suffer from juvenile psoriatic arthritis, wherein both skin psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis occur together. In some children, arthritis occurs before psoriasis.

Like psoriasis, there is no cure for psoriatic arthritis. However, the symptoms can be controlled and managed in a number of ways.

In addition to the use of topical ointments and moisturizers for psoriasis, a rheumatologist may prescribe non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce joint pain and swelling.

If one or two joints are affected, corticosteroids may be injected directly into the joint. Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may also be prescribed.

Other therapies that can be used include moderate exercise, which will strengthen the muscles and improve flexibility. Hot and cold treatments will also relieve joint pain and inflammation.

Having reviewed the information about psoriatic arthritis and its basics, you are better equipped to deal with the disease.