Psoriasis (cont.)
Can psoriasis affect my joints?
Yes, psoriasis is associated with joint problems in about 10%-35% of patients.
In fact, sometimes joint pains maybe the only sign of the disorder with
completely clear skin. The joint disease associated with psoriasis is referred
to as psoriatic arthritis. Patients may have inflammation of any joints
(arthritis), although the joints of the hands, knees, and ankles tend to be most
commonly affected. Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory, destructive form of arthritis and is treated with medications to stop the disease progression.
The average age for onset of psoriatic arthritis is 30-40 years of age. In most
cases, the skin symptoms occur before the onset of the arthritis.
The diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis is typically made by a physician
examination, medical history, and relevant family history. Sometimes, lab tests
and X-rays may be used to determine the severity of the disease and to exclude
other diagnoses like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Can psoriasis affect only my nails?
Yes, psoriasis may involve solely the nails in a limited number of patients.
Usually, the nail symptoms accompany the skin and arthritis symptoms. Nails may
have small pinpoint pits or large yellowish separations of the nail plate called
"oil spots." Nail psoriasis is typically very difficult to treat. Treatment
option are somewhat limited and include potent topical steroids applied at the
nail-base cuticle, injection of steroids at the nail-base cuticle, and oral or
systemic medications as described below for the treatment of psoriasis.
How many people have psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a fairly common skin condition and is estimated to affect
approximately 1%-3% of the U.S. population. It currently affects roughly 7.5 to
8.5 million people in the U.S. It is seen worldwide in about 125 million people. Interestingly, African Americans have about half the rate of psoriasis as
Caucasians.
Next: Is psoriasis curable? »
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