Treatment of psoriatic arthritis focuses on:

• Stop the development of the disease.
• Reduces inflammation.
• Treatment of skin symptoms.
• Relief of pain.
• Keep the joints as mobile as possible.

Early, aggressive treatment of PsA helps to minimize the disease’s effect on your quality of life. Managing psoriatic arthritis can act like treating two diseases. Since many people with PsA have psoriasis, they may see a primary care physician, a dermatologist, and a rheumatologist. Some treatments work on both diseases. Others work mainly or only on skin problems or arthritis. All medications have benefits and risks.

Treatment of psoriasis
Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription treatments for psoriasis include:

• Topical medications made from vitamin D, derivatives of vitamin A, salicylic acid, coal tar or corticosteroids.
• Treatments with sunlight or specialized ultraviolet light.
• Medicines that target the skin.
• Medicines that target the immune system.

Treatment of psoriatic arthritis

Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications for psoriatic arthritis include:

NSAIDs. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually taken by mouth, although some can be applied to the skin. Popular over-the-counter (OTC) versions such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodiumhelp relieve pain. Many prescription NSAIDs can also help reduce inflammation.

Corticosteroids.These powerful anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken by mouth (orally) or injected into a joint in a doctor’s office. In the case of oral corticosteroids, doctors try to use these drugs at the lowest dose for the shortest time possible because of side effects, which can include facial swelling, easy bruising, weight gain, and weak bones.

DMARDs.Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are powerful drugs that reduce inflammation and can prevent PsA from getting worse. They are available as pills, can be self-injected or given as an infusion. There are three types of DMARDs:

• Traditional DMARDshas been used for the longest time and has a broad immunosuppressive effect. The most commonly used drug is methotrexate. These medicines are usually taken by mouth and can take up to three months to become fully effective.
• Biology interrupt certain chemicals or steps in the inflammatory process, and they generally work faster than traditional DMARDs. They are self-injected or given as an infusion in a doctor’s office.
• Targeted DMARDslike biologics and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, also block certain steps in the inflammatory process, but these drugs are taken by mouth.

While DMARDs can be very effective, in many cases they suppress the immune system and increase the risk of infection.

Each person with PsA is different. Doctors recommend certain drugs depending on:

• How many and which parts of the body are affected.
• How serious the disease is.
• How many joints are affected.
• Drug allergies and other health conditions.
• Current medication use.