Arthritis psoriasis is also called psoriatic arthritis and is a condition in which both the joints and the skin become inflamed. The psoriasis causes the skin to become red, raised, scaly, and patchy. It is estimated that ten percent of people with psoriasis will also develop inflammatory arthritis. This results in a diagnosis of arthritis psoriasis.



In psoriatic arthritis, the arthritis and psoriasis rarely occur at the same time. Psoriasis occurs first for around 80% for most sufferers, while 15% with arthritis psoriasis will experience arthritis symptoms first. Years can pass before the other condition exhibits symptoms.

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.

Discuss with your doctor the best medications to control your condition. Common drugs for arthritis psoriasis include corticosteroids, immunosuppressant medications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying ant-irheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or TNF-alpha inhibitors. Immunosuppressant medications are prescribed for severe cases, as are TNF-alpha inhibitors. Due to the side effects these can cause, they are only prescribed if the arthritis psoriasis is too severe to respond to other medications.

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 painful condition that can affect your quality of life. Although there are a variety of treatments, many of them contain side effects. Because of this, discuss all of your options with your doctor. New and more effective treatments are always being developed.