Understanding Psoriatic Arthritis: A Breakdown of Its 5 Classifications
Rewritten Article:
If your skin is aflame with psoriasis, be on the lookout for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) — a sneaky cousin that brings joint pain to the party. Here's a lowdown on the five common types, their symptoms, and treatments that'll help you stay one step ahead.
PsA and psoriasis may share the same last name, but they're not twins. Psoriasis is all about red, scaly skin, while PsA usually 🥳 joint pain. It's possible to have one without the other, but keep in mind that having psoriasis boosts your chances of developing PsA by 20 to 30 percent.
Knowing which type of PsA you've got can be helpful for fighting the good fight. Here are the five main types and how to recognize them:
A. Asymmetric Psoriatic Arthritis
This is the most common variety, causing your joints to go rogue by attacking them one by one rather than in pairs. It could be just your right hand feels the burn, while your left hand's totally chill. But, remember, those joints on the other side could still get involved. So, while it seems like an oddization, you can experience pain on both sides at the same time. According to a 2019 study, this one's more common among men.
How to spot it:
- Chronic fatigue
- Blurred 👀 vision
- Swollen fingers or toes
- Pitting or cracking nails
- Swollen, painful, stiff, or tender joints
- Swollen or painful ligaments or tendons
How to treat it:
PsA doesn't have a 🏆 for the cure, but you can gorgeously manage symptoms with the doctor's help.
Potential treatments:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Oral corticosteroids like prednisone
- Biologic drugs (e.g., adalimumab, etanercept)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like aspirin or ibuprofen
- Intra-articular joint injections (e.g., hyaluronic acid, cortisone)
B. Symmetric Psoriatic Arthritis
With this one, symptoms pop up on both sides of your body at the same time — left and right, yin and yang, Taylor and Beyoncé. It represents 15 to 61 percent of cases and loves to see our lovely ladies.
How to spot it:
Symptoms mirror asymmetric PsA, with a preference for smaller joints like those in your hands and feet.
PsA PSA: Studies show that smoking cigarettes can intensify PsA symptoms and potentially reduce the effectiveness of treatment.
How to treat it:
Treatments for symmetric PsA are pretty similar to asymmetric PsA. Your ideal treatment plan can depend on personal factors like age, weight, mobility, pain level, and overall health.
C. Distal Interphalangeal Predominant (DIP) Psoriatic Arthritis
This one plagues 10 percent of PsA sufferers, creeping up on those DIP joints near your toes and fingers. You might notice changes to your nails. It can crop up in one joint or latch onto multiple ones.
How to spot it:
- Swollen fingers or toes
- Ligament or tendon pain
- Reduced range of motion
- Joint stiffness in your fingers or toes
- Nail catastrophes:
- Pitting
- Crumbling
- White spots
- Discoloration
- Nail cracking
- Detachment
How to treat it:
Your doctor might suggest NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections, or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors to tame inflammation and soothe discomfort. For extreme cases, at-home treatment options can provide temporary relief. Try one (or all) of these DIY remedies:
- Cold therapy: Cool inflammation down with an ice pack for up to 10 minutes.
- Nail care: Avoid cuticle trimming and nail polish to avoid irritation. Keep nails moisturized with cuticle oils and creams.
- Soak it up: Treat your toes (or hands) to a relaxing bath, but keep the soak relatively short to avoid drying out your skin. Follow up with top-notch moisturizer.
- Keep it dry: Patsy, blot your skin dry after each shower. Opt for sweat-wicking socks to prevent moisture buildup.
Just remember to chat it up with your doc before trying any DIY PsA remedies. You want to make sure it doesn't interfere with your prescription treatments or worsen unique symptoms.
D. Spondylitis Psoriatic Arthritis
This guy targets the joints between your spinal vertebrae, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling in your neck and back, but symptoms can also make their presence known in your feet, hips, arms, legs, and hands.
How to spot it:
Spondylitis PsA symptoms could include:
- Pain, stiffness, and swelling in your neck and back
- Symptoms in your feet, hips, arms, legs, and hands
How to treat it:
Treatment options might include NSAIDs, physical therapy, occupational therapy, immunosuppressants, sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), biologic medications (TNF inhibitors), and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
E. Psoriatic Arthritis Mutilans
PsA mutilans is a rare, but severe form of PsA, affecting about 5 percent of PsA peeps. It's known for causing severe pain, primarily in the hands, feet, or wrists.
How to spot it:
PsA mutilans can lead to extreme inflammation, resulting in joint damage like deformities, bone loss, loss of movement, or reduced range of motion.
How to treat it:
PsA mutilans treatment focuses on managing pain, slowing disease progression, and preventing further joint damage. Options include anti-TNF inhibitors, DMARDs, biologic medications, and, in some cases, surgery. One study in 2011 found that etanercept (Enbrel) may help restore joint function. More research is needed to confirm this.
Remember, PsA isn't a one-size-fits-all condition, and treatment plans will vary depending on unique symptoms and lifestyle factors. Nail these essentials, and you'll be one step closer to taming the beast we know as PsA.
[4] OSMs: Old school medications[5] Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can cause skin rashes, fatigue, and joint pain, as well as other symptoms.
- Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a type of chronic disease, often accompanies psoriasis but may present differently, displaying joint pain instead of red, scaly skin.
- In the five common types of PsA, Asymmetric Psoriatic Arthritis is the most common, causing joint pain unilaterally, while Symmetric Psoriatic Arthritis affects both sides simultaneously.
- Chronic fatigue, blurred vision, swollen fingers or toes, pitting or cracking nails, and swollen, painful joints are symptoms of Asymmetric Psoriatic Arthritis.
- In managing PsA, medical-conditions such as smoking cigarettes can intensify symptoms and potentially reduce treatment effectiveness.
- When dealing with Distal Interphalangeal Predominant (DIP) Psoriatic Arthritis, skin care involves avoiding nail polish and irratants, nail care, cold therapy, keeping skin dry, and soaking in warm water with a moisturizer.
