Early diagnosis and treatment of disease can improve the functionality and quality of life of patients and slow the progression of the disease. However, many treatments for psoriasis (skin disease) have no effect on the joints and many treatments for arthritis do not improve the skin. Fortunately, developments in the investigation of psoriatic arthritis have led to new treatments that can help reduce skin symptoms, relieve pain and stiffness caused by arthritis and to reduce the chances of long-term damage to joints.

It is also important to know that you are not yourself. Control of psoriatic arthritis can be difficult, but with the help of your physician or other health care providers, with the support of family and friends and thanks to the latest knowledge and proper treatment, you can regain your life. This booklet can help you better understand psoriatic arthritis and new treatments available today.

What is psoriatic arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis is characterized by inflammation (the body's response to injury, irritation or infection) both in the joints (arthritis) and skin (psoriasis). Psoriatic arthritis can cause pain and swelling in joints and scaly patches on the skin.

In most patients, skin symptoms occur first, followed by symptoms of arthritis. Indeed, to 0% of patients with psoriasis may develop psoriatic arthritis. Even if you have pain, stiffness or other symptoms in the joints, psoriatic arthritis can be present and causing damage to your joints. For this reason, you should be in touch with your doctor and report any changes you feel.

Who is at risk?

Psoriatic arthritis is often found in patients suffering from psoriasis, a chronic skin condition that affects nearly% of the world population. It is estimated that up to 10 - 0% of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis. The disease also affects men and women. Generally diagnosed at ages 0 to 0 years, but can be observed in younger or older people.

What causes psoriatic arthritis?

After years of research, scientists still do not know what causes psoriatic arthritis. One possibility is heredity. We now know that psoriatic arthritis is not directly inherited (passed from parents to children), but that genetics may influence the likelihood of developing psoriatic arthritis and the disease may be triggered by a specific event or situation.

Scientists are trying to determine what these events or conditions, including infection, trauma, hormonal changes in the body and environmental factors.

We know that one component of the human immune system called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) plays an important role in developing psoriatic arthritis. The body naturally produces TNF-a to help fight bacteria, viruses and other foreign substances that invade the body. However, in patients with psoriatic arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, the body produces too much TNF-a, which triggers a chain reaction of the immune system. The result is inflammation in both joints and skin. It is believed that TNF-a is associated with accelerated growth of cells, leading to formation of skin lesions. If left untreated, chronic inflammation in the joints can lead to erosion (deterioration of cartilage and bone) and permanent damage to joints.

What are the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis causes pain and swelling in joints and surrounding tissues such as skin, tendons and ligaments. These symptoms are generally unequal in both (balanced) sides of the body, usually affecting one side or the other (asymmetrical).

These symptoms can affect different areas of the body and may include a combination of the following:

• Joints, tendons and joints
• Painful, red and swollen fingers and toes that can display picture "sausage" (can not hit all the fingers or toes)
• Stiffness and pain in joints
• Painful and swollen areas at the points of the tendons and ligaments touching the bone, such as the elbow or the back of the heel (Achilles tendon)
• Stiffness and pain in the lumbar (lower back)
• Nail
• Small grooves (scars) in fingernails or
• Foot
• Removal of nail from the skin
• Leather (psoriatic lesions)

You may be interested in reading Joint Pain Relief and Joint Pain Supplements. Also visit Natural Joint Pain Relief

To add a comment please login by clicking here