Psoriatic arthritis, also called arthritis psoriasis, is an illness of the skin and joints that results in inflammation. Symptoms of psoriasis are patches of skin that are raised, scaly, and red. About ten percent of people with psoriasis also develop inflammatory arthritis. When these two diseases are present it is called arthritis psoriasis.

The psoriasis usually, around 80% of the time, occurs first in cases of psoriatic arthritis. Only 5% of the time do the two conditions begin at the same time. The time between onset of the two conditions can range from months to years.

Both women and men, usually in their forties and fifties, can get arthritis psoriasis. There is no known cause of arthritis psoriasis. At this time there is no cure but there are a wide variety of treatments.

Some of the more commonly affected areas with psoriasis are the knees, elbows, and scalp. The joints most commonly affected with psoriatic arthritis are the ankles, knees, wrists, and hips. These joints become painful and may be swollen, red, and hot.

A variety of medications exist to control the inflammation. Your doctor may recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), immunosuppressant medications, or TNF-alpha inhibitors. For severe cases of psoriatic arthritis, immunosupressent medications or TNF-alpha inhibitors may be prescribed. Both are effective but can cause damaging side effects.

Corticosteroids are useful for mild cases of arthritis psoriasis. These can be taken orally or injected into the joint. They can have serious side effects and are not prescribed long term. NSAIDs are another drug that should be used on a short term basis. These can be over-the-counter, like aspirin, or be prescribed by your doctor. DMARDs can take months to work, but they can limit joint damage. They may be prescribed with a pain reliever.

Arthritis psoriasis is a serious and painful condition, but more treatments are always being developed. As with any illness, your doctor is the best source of information for the most effective treatments for your psoriatic arthritis.

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