What is psoriatic arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis is a kind of arthritis that affects people who have psoriasis. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder that causes red and scaly rashes on the skin and is more prevalent on the elbows, ankles, feet, knees, scalp and hands. Psoriasis can affect different parts of the body- skin, bones and joints, brain and nervous system, eyes and more.

If you have psoriatic arthritis, your immune system attacks its own healthy tissues and causes stiffness, swelling and pain in the joints. If left untreated, the inflammation can cause permanent damage to the tissues and joints and can be disabling. 

This can affect any part of the body and can be either mild or severe. There is no cure for psoriatic arthritis and psoriatic arthritis treatments are mostly aimed at preventing joint damage and reducing the symptoms. 

Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis symptoms include, but are not limited to:

• Lower back pain
• Foot pain
• Swollen fingers and toes
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Swollen tendons
• Tiredness and stiffness in the morning
• Pain and redness of the eyes
• Changes in the nail appearance 
• Reduced mobility and range of motion
• Scaly skin around the knees, scalp and elbows

Causes of psoriatic arthritis 

Psoriatic arthritis causes are autoimmune in nature, where the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy tissue and cells. Studies suggest that environmental and genetic factors play a role in the occurrence of psoriatic arthritis. People who suffer from this have a family history of either psoriatic arthritis or of psoriasis. 

Physical trauma or some kind of virus or bacterial infection may also trigger psoriatic arthritis in people who are already susceptible to this disease. An unhealthy lifestyle, smoking and alcohol use also increases the risk.

People who are at greater risk of psoriatic arthritis –

• If you have skin psoriasis, you are at the greatest risk of developing psoriatic arthritis.
• Most people who have psoriatic arthritis have a sibling or a parent who has psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.
• Psoriatic arthritis usually develops between the age of 30 and 55.
• If you are a smoker and consume alcohol. 

Psoriatic arthritis treatment

Psoriatic arthritis treatment options may include one or more of the following:

• Pain relief medications and ointments.
• The doctor could also prescribe immunosuppressants. These diseases curb the immune system.
• Lifestyle modifications- Exercise, healthy diet, quit smoking and alcohol, good sleep and stress management. 
• Surgery is the last step and a severely damaged joint can be surgically replaced with a new one made from plastic and metal. 

Home remedies

There are some home remedies to follow that will ease the psoriatic arthritis symptoms.

• Shed extra kilos of body weight and maintain a healthy weight. This will reduce the strain on the joints and also improve the effectiveness of the medication. 
• Quit smoking. Smoking puts stress on all aspects of the body.
• Limit alcohol intake as it can negatively affect treatments.
• Exercise regularly as this protects the joints and keeps them active. The muscles are stronger and can provide extra support to the joints. Opt for low-impact exercises like walking or swimming.
• Physiotherapy can help ease psoriatic arthritis symptoms. Hot and cold therapy, exercises and others have had a positive impact. 

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Psoriatic arthritis complications

Psoriatic arthritis is linked with other complications and can cause issues like:

• Fatigue
• Gout
• Fibromyalgia
• Depression and anxiety

If you have been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, it is not the end of the world. While the disease has no permanent cure, proper treatment can ease the symptoms. The specialist one must consult for autoimmune disorders is a rheumatologist, along with an orthopaedic surgeon and physiotherapist. For any lesions on the skin, reach out to a dermatologist. Proper diagnosis and treatment, along with healthy lifestyle modifications, can help you manage psoriasis with ease. 

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Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.