Archive for the ‘Psoriasis’ Category
Psoriatic Arthritis Causes, Diagnosis, Symptoms and Treatment
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Implementing these beauty tips you can make real progress in fighting your skin complaints. Having tired looking skin can be difficult to deal with, but easily obtainable using these skincare tips.
About 10 percent to 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic [pronounced sore-ee-AA-tic] arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints.
Early recognition, diagnosis and treatment of psoriatic arthritis can relieve pain and inflammation and possibly help prevent progressive joint involvement and damage. Without treatment, psoriatic arthritis can potentially be disabling and crippling.
Psoriatic arthritis is a less common form of arthritis. It affects both men and women in equal numbers, and usually between the ages of 20 and 50. Up to 30% of people with psoriasis will also get psoriatic arthritis. Although psoriasis may start at any age (commonly in the late teens), the arthritis component usually makes its appearance later – in the 20s, 30s and 40s. Commonly, psoriasis shows first, but in a small percentage of people (approximately 15%), arthritis may show first.
Psoriatic Arthritis Causes
A particular combination of genes makes some people more likely to get psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Current research suggests that something (perhaps an infection) acts as a trigger in people who are susceptible to this type of arthritis because of their genetic make-up. No specific infection has been found and it may be that a variety of infections (including bacteria that live in patches of psoriasis) can trigger the disease.
Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms
Symptoms associated with psoriatic arthritis vary in how they occur (i.e. symmetrical or asymmetrical) and what joints are affected. Any joint in the body can be affected. When psoriasis causes pitting and thickened or discolored fingernails, the joints nearest the fingertips are likely to become arthritic.
In most patients, the psoriasis precedes the arthritis by months to years. The arthritis frequently involve the knees, ankles, and joints in the feet. Usually, only a few joints are inflamed at a time. The inflamed joints become painful, swollen, hot, and red. Sometimes, joint inflammation in the fingers or toes can cause swelling of the entire digit, giving them the appearance of a “sausage.” Joint stiffness is common and is typically worse early in the morning.
Other Symptoms include:
Silver or grey scaly spots on the scalp, elbows, knees and/or lower end of the spine.
Pitting of fingernails/toenails
Psoriatic Arthritis Diagnosis
Skin and nail changes characteristic of psoriasis with accompanying arthritic symptoms are the hallmarks of psoriatic arthritis. A blood test for rheumatoid factor, antibodies that suggest the presence of rheumatoid arthritis, is negative in nearly all patients with psoriatic arthritis. X rays may show characteristic damage to the larger joints on either side of the body as well as fusion of the joints at the ends of the fingers and toes.
Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment
Treatment plans are designed to reduce inflammation in the joints, reduce pain and prevent further damage. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to control the pain and swelling of the arthritis. Your doctor may inject steroids directly into affected joints. Other drugs, such as methotrexate and an antimalarial drug known as hydroxychloroquine, may also be used. Other more aggressive treatments include corticosteroid injections into the joints or injections of gold salts for patients with more destructive joint damage. Surgery may be necessary in cases of very severe
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Psoriasis: Symptoms and Treatment – Part 2
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Implementing these facial skincare treatments you can achieve real progress in battling your skin complaints. Having dry skin can be difficult to deal with, but easily obtainable using these skincare tips.
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that causes scaling and inflammation and is believed to be a disorder of the immune system. This non-contagious skin disorder is extremely uncomfortable and highly unattractive, causing the individual possible embarrassment. Psoriasis affects about 2 to 2.6 percent of the population and doesn’t seem to discriminate against age, race or gender.
What causes psoriasis?
Though we aren’t positive of the exact cause, research has shown that psoriasis is most likely to be an overabundance of T cells. T cells are a type of white blood cell that helps protect the body against infection or disease. The T cells cause the inflammation and excessive skin cell reproduction, which leads to skin inflammation and flaking.
Symptoms
This is a rather complex subject. Though in all forms of psoriasis, there is a rash present, different types of psoriasis exhibit a different type of rash.
- Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis, which displays red-based legions that are covered by silvery scales.
- Guttate psoriasis appears on the trunk of the body, arms, legs and scalp and produces drop-like legions. Viral respiratory infections or certain bacterial infections may initiate this type of psoriasis.
- Pustular psoriasis displays itself as blisters filled with puss. Medications, sunlight, infections, pregnancy, perspiration, stress or exposure to certain chemicals may trigger pustular psoriasis.
- Inverse psoriasis produces large dry, smooth, very red area that occur in the folds of the skin in places such as under breasts, in armpits, or in areas near genitals. This form of psoriasis is associated with sensitivity to friction and perspiration.
- Erythrodermic psoriasis produces widespread areas of reddening and scaly skin. Severe sunburn or the use of steroids may cause this form of psoriasis.
At times, diagnosis can be difficult because it can resemble other skin disorders. In some cases, a doctor may opt to remove a small piece of skin from the affected area and have a biopsy performed to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
All forms of treatment for this disorder should be under advisement of a doctor. Due to the different types of psoriasis and the possibility of misdiagnosing the disorder, it could be harmful for an individual to take it upon themselves to treat psoriasis without consulting a physician. Treatment is usually done in steps according to the severity of the psoriasis.
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Understanding the Crohns Psoriasis Connection
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By using these useful ideas you can make real progress in fighting your skin problems. Having dry skin can be challenging to deal with, but easy once you know how.
Herbs may be an ideal way to treat Crohns disease, but what should a sufferer do if they have crohns psoriasis as well?
Studies have found that there is an estimated five-fold increase in psoriasis for those with Crohns disease. To put that into better perspective, approximately 2% of Americans are affected by psoriasis, yet more than 11% of Crohns sufferers are affected by psoriasis. It seems more and more likely that a link between Crohns disease and psoriasis exists.
What is psoriasis? Psoriasis is a chronic condition that affects the skin and joints. It typically causes red scaly patches on the skin that looks like a severe rash. The scales on the red patch of skin have a silvery hue and are known as psoriatic plaques and are the result of inflammation and excessive skin production. The most common areas of the skin that are affected by psoriasis include the knees and elbows. However, psoriasis can occur anywhere on the body, even on the genitals or the scalp. Like Crohns, psoriasis is not contagious.
What is the link? Researchers believe the crohns psoriasis link lies within a persons genes. Just like Crohns, psoriasis is the result of a malfunctioning immune system and is considered an immune-mediated condition. If a person has a history of psoriasis within their family, and these genes have been passed on, this person may not only be at risk for psoriasis, but also another immune-mediated condition such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or Crohns disease.
In fact, research suggests that the risk of developing psoriasis and/or another immune-mediated condition, especially diabetes or Crohns disease, significantly increases in those who have a close blood relative with psoriasis.
If it is true that Crohns and psoriasis are caused by the same immune system malfunction, it would likely be best to treat crohns psoriasis as one condition instead of as two separate problems. Although those who have psoriasis and those who have Crohns will experience different symptoms, and each condition affects separate areas of the body, they still maintain some similarities in regards to flare ups.
For instance, stress and alcohol consumption are both prime candidates for triggering a Crohns and psoriasis flare up. In addition, some believe that a persons diet can cause an active case of psoriasis, and diet also plays an important role in regulating Crohns.
How can crohns psoriasis be treated together? Even though you may need to treat these problems separately, certain medications such as Remicade (Infliximab) may be able to treat them together. Separate studies have found Remicade to be effective at treating both Crohns Disease and psoriasis. The reason is because Remicade is an anti-TNF medication. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is known to be the culprit behind the inflammation that occurs in Crohns and psoriasis.
Remicade sooths certain parts of the bodys immune system that are thought to aggravate the condition and cause symptoms. Essentially, Remicade has been designed to improve the natural response the body has towards disease.
Remicade is a powerful crohns psoriasis treatment and is administered through intravenous injection over a defined treatment schedule. Many participants in both the Crohns and psoriasis studies successfully achieved remission of their conditions with no or few adverse side effects.
Remicade is not for everyone, so be sure to talk to your doctor about possible medications if you suffer from crohns psoriasis. You should also find out if there are any other treatments or alternative therapies that your doctor can recommend which may help you attain relief.
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Arthritis Treatment & Pain Relief
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Use these beauty tips you can gain real progress in combating your skin complaints. Having aging skin can be challenging to deal with, but easily obtainable using these skincare tips.
Examining bone woes with Arthritis – The Bane and the Cure.
Roman Emperor Diocletian exempted citizens with severe arthritis from paying taxes, probably realizing that the disease itself was taxing enough! Oh, those good ol’ days! You and I might not be so lucky with our taxes. So here we are now in the 21st century. What can we do to cripple arthritis before it cripples us? But first let’s retract a bit and see where arthritis begins. It all begins with stiff joints and aches while doing any kind of physical work. We recognize it as the dawn of our old age, but this just might not strike us in our 60′s but can strike us even in our 20′s also. Arthritis, like most ailments is egalitarian. The disease may be just physical but be warned that it exacts a mental, emotional and economic toll too. The cause of pain is, joint inflammation. The inflammation causes redness, swelling and pain. In severe cases the inflammation is uncontrolled as the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. Their are more than 100 different kinds of arthritis. Of these, Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis are the most common. The chances of this ailment gradually increase with age. The age group of 45+ is most vulnerable.
That’s for the introduction. The bad news – their is no permanent cure for arthritis. The little bit of good news – it can be controlled through physical and occupational therapy and lifestyle changes. So here are some solutions going around.
1. Doctor’s prescribe several drugs and ointments. Usually, pain relievers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are given. They bring temporary relief from the pain.
2. Exercise is a must for arthritis patients to retain mobility in joints and bones.
3. In severe disabilities, joint replacement or arthroplasty gives excellent results.
4. Diet monitoring is critical. Red meat or marine fish are a big no-no for arthritis patients. Also, strike off beans, nuts, spinach, tomatoes and pulses.
5. Phototherapy or PUVA (Psoralen with Ultraviolet-A therapy) is recommended for conditions of severe psoriasis arthritis. Psoriasis is chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the skin and sometimes it occurs along with inflammation of the joints (arthritis)
The specific medical treatment depends on the type of arthritis seen. But whatever the medical fallback, all of us can start with minor lifestyle changes like diet and exercise. Isn’t it the antidote for all that affects us?
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Arthritis: Symptoms and Treatment – Part 1
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Use these facial skincare treatments you can make real progress in combating your skin problems. Having dry skin can be difficult to deal with, but it's not impossible.
Arthritis: Symptoms and Treatment
In terms of etymology (the derivation of a word), using the Greek prefix arthro or arthron meaning joint or jointed, combined with the Greek suffix itis meaning inflammation, we can readily comprehend the true meaning of arthritis as joint inflammation. Whereas, inflammation is generally associated with redness, swelling, and tenderness, it is usually accompanied by pain; and often, changes in structure. Together these symptoms result in the disturbed function of an area of one’s body; the resultant being, impedance to normal activity.
Upon the suspected onset of arthritis, when one seeks medical help in combating the disorder, the physician’s approach to the patient will generally require a complete history and physical examination, which are essential to the diagnosis of joint disease; as well as the correct interpretation of any physical changes having taken place. Although laboratory and x-ray data are supplementary, the physical examination is most important since, in the majority of patients, joint symptoms are part of a systemic (whole body) disease. Therefore, arthritis may result from or be associated with a number of other conditions, such as infection, rheumatic fever, ulcerative colitis, trauma, neurogenic disturbances, osteoarthritis, metabolic disturbances, neoplasms (synovioma), hydrarthrosis, fibromyositis, bursitis, acromegaly, and psoriasis.
When I was twenty years young, I had an accident that resulted in an acute, complete separation of my right shoulder; trauma that, a few years later led to some of the severest arthritic pain I have ever endured. Often, with little indication of an oncoming flare-up, the pain would be so intense, I would bawl vociferously. When I was 25, it was my gynecologist who, after a complete physical, determined I had arthritis. Eight years later, after having fallen three stories from a scaffold, landing erect, I developed serious problems (as one might imagine) with my neck and upper spine; whereat, x-rays revealed no fractures. In less than another two years, while in the midst of a bout with arthritis in my right knee; while operating a table saw, my knee unexpectedly buckled as I was pushing a piece of wood past the saw blade. I severed my right thumb at the first joint. The physician who pinned it back together (though gangrene eventually set in) had, a year earlier injected my right elbow with cortisone to alleviate the pain of, what else, tennis elbow.
