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Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment: What Should You Do To Reduce Your Symptoms?

16 January 2019 by Clifford Ramos

If your general practitioner diagnosed you with psoriatic arthritis, you might not know what to do about your symptoms or how to control them. Psoriatic arthritis not only affects different joints in your body, it can also aggravate your skin. The symptoms caused by psoriatic arthritis can become worse with time. Learn more about psoriatic arthritis' symptoms and how you can treat your condition now.

What Are the Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis?

Although psoriasis and arthritis are separate medical conditions, they can occur together in some men and women. People who have psoriasis and arthritis develop a unique condition called psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis can show up in specific areas of your body, such as in your fingers and toes, or it can develop on both sides of your body.

Like other forms of arthritis, psoriatic arthritis can make your joints swell. Pain and inflammation can also show up in your joints over time. Large, red patches of dry tissue covered in silvery white scales may also form on your skin. 

If you don't receive the proper treatment for your condition now, it can become increasingly worse later on. 

How Do You Treat Your Joints and Skin?

A doctor will generally treat psoriatic arthritic as a whole instead of individually. Both conditions occur when your immune system attacks your body's cells and tissues. In order to reduce or control both conditions, a doctor must bring your immune system under control.

The treatments used to control the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis may include: 

• anti-inflammatory drugs
• immunosuppressants
• steroids

You may need to use or take more than one medication or treatment to ease your symptoms, especially if you experience regular flareups in your skin or joints. In addition, a doctor may schedule you for clinical studies and other tests to help ease your symptoms. The studies allow physicians to test out medications that prevent your immune system from attacking your joints and cells.

A medical doctor may also limit or change your diet. Some types of food, spices, ingredients, and nutrients can aggravate or trigger your immune system, including gluten and sugar. If you need to change your diet during your treatment, a physician may ask a nutritionist to guide you. A nutritionist can provide a list of items you can and can't eat during your treatment. 

If you need help treating the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, contact a center like Sarasota Arthritis Center. 

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