Know about the New and Existing Treatments for Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that is a type of inflammatory arthritis. It causes a long-term condition in most people and may become worse with time, especially if left untreated. When the person suffering from this disease is not given proper treatment or when the treatment is prolonged, it can cause serious damage to the joints in the body. To avoid serious and permanent joint damages, it is important to get an early diagnosis. Learning and knowing the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis is hence important to get the right diagnosis and timely treatment.

Psoriatic arthritis may develop post a psoriasis disease. Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes scaly patches that develops on the skin. Not all types of psoriasis lead to psoriatic arthritis; however, in some cases of psoriasis can lead to an onset of psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis can affect any joint in the body. When psoriatic arthritis occurs in the spine, the condition is called spondylitis. It causes a stiffness in the neck or back, causing difficulty to the person while bending. People who have psoriatic arthritis may also get tender spots in the tendons. This causes a pain in the feet or the back of the heel.

Most people fear a permanent joint damage that could be caused by psoriatic arthritis; however, it is not entirely true. Psoriatic arthritis can cause permanent joint damage; however, this can only happen when it is left untreated or when the treatment is provided too late. An early diagnosis and treatment can cure psoriatic arthritis and not cause any harm to the joint. There are different types of treatments available to cure psoriatic arthritis. To know about them, read on!

Existing treatments for psoriatic arthritis
Patients with psoriatic arthritis undergo several types of treatments, some of them include doses of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicines. These medicines help treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, while some OTC and prescription medicines are simultaneously given to prevent permanent joint damage. The medications used to help treat psoriatic arthritis include NSAIDs, corticosteroids, topical treatments, DMARDs, biologics, and light therapy.

NSAIDs: These are the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are usually taken orally but can also be applied to the skin directly. NSAIDs reduce inflammation, pain, and swelling.

Corticosteroids: These are the medicines that are designed to make more anti-inflammatory hormone cortisol that is otherwise and naturally made by the adrenal glands. These too can be taken orally. They reduce inflammation but do have some side-effects if used for too long. The side effects can include facial swelling, osteoporosis, weight gain, and more.

Topical treatments: These are applied directly to the affected skin to treat the scaly and itchy skin caused by psoriasis. Topical treatments are available in the forms of gels, creams, and ointments. These can include prescribed medicines as well as those that can be bought over the counter.

DMARDs: These are the disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that include various groups of medications that control and suppress chemicals that cause inflammation, so it doesn’t lead to joint damage. DMARDs also help reduce the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.

Biologics: These come under DMARDs and are hence known as a subset of DMARDs. These are complex medicines that control and stop inflammation at the cellular level. These are administered either by infusion or injection.

Light therapy: This is a different type of treatment for psoriatic arthritis where the patient is exposed to ultraviolet light. This process is also called phototherapy. This treatment for psoriatic arthritis is done under medical supervision for safety purposes.

New treatments for psoriatic arthritis
There has been extensive research on new treatments for psoriatic arthritis to ensure a better quality of life for the patients. With the help of these studies, doctors are now able to administer different and new ways to treat psoriatic arthritis.

Some of the new medicines that have been approved by the FDA include ixekizumab and tofacitinib for treating psoriatic arthritis. These medicines can be taken along with a traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). The combination of newly approved medicines along with DMARDs is prescribed post a thorough check-up by the doctor.

Though these medicines are FDA approved, they do interfere with the immune system of the body. This interference can increase the risk of infection as a side effect. Hence, to avoid this risk, patients are tested for tuberculosis before they start these new treatments for psoriatic arthritis.

Home remedies for psoriatic arthritis
There aren’t many new treatments for psoriatic arthritis that have been approved by the FDA; hence, when the existing treatments are combined with certain home remedies, the combination can give positive results.

• Turmeric is one of the important herbs from the ginger family that may ease the effects of psoriasis as well as psoriatic arthritis flare-ups. You may ask your doctor about how you can use turmeric for treating psoriatic arthritis.
• Epsom salt is one of the home remedies that has been used for treating many skin-related issues including psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Epsom salt contains magnesium that boosts bone health and relieves the itchiness of the skin.

You may combine your existing treatment or any new treatment for psoriatic arthritis with a home remedy to treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis to get better results. However, it is important to discuss and take advice from your doctor about the home remedy combination to be safe.