Rheumatoid Arthritis Skin Manifestations: Pictures, Symptoms and More
The following are some of the most common rheumatic symptoms associated with the skin. These symptoms may occur at any age but they tend to appear earlier in life. They usually begin with a few bumps or pimples on your face or hands, then spread over your body and eventually affect other parts of your body such as arms, legs, feet etc.
You will probably notice that these rashes disappear within a week or two.
Bumps and Pimples on Face – Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a common inflammatory disease affecting the skin. It results from an imbalance between the immune system’s production of white blood cells (leukocytes) and its ability to fight off invading organisms. The skin becomes dry, itchy, inflamed and cracked.
Some people have no signs of psoriasis at all, while others develop small patches of it on their faces. Other times, psoriasis affects the whole body. Sometimes the skin becomes red and swollen with pus-filled sores called boils.
These are often painful and cause you to scratch them constantly.
Symptoms include:
Redness and swelling of the affected area(s). Psoriasis may also cause fine scales or even hair loss around infected areas.
Greasy, yellowish or silvery-white buildup of compound called “plaque” across patches of infected skin.
Itching or pain, which usually is the first sign of the disease.
The appearance of pus-filled sores or boils across affected areas. In some cases, these can cause mild scarring on your skin if they burst.
Burning or stinging sensation in patches of infected skin.
Psoriasis causes no permanent harm to your internal organs, but it can damage the nails and joints of certain infected individuals. It can also cause low self esteem or embarrassment due to the unsightly nature of the skin disorder.
There are various treatments available for psoriasis. Treatments for psoriasis include:
Creams and ointments that help soothe itching and reduce inflammation of the skin.
UVB light therapy reduces skin redness and swelling, and can eliminate skin plaques over a period of time.
Oral medications that regulate the activity of your immune system. These drugs are usually prescribed if topical creams don’t produce effective results.
New biologic therapies are also available which help to regulate the immune system. These drugs are quite effective, but may have some side effects such as liver damage.
Exposing your skin to the sun can worsen psoriasis or provoke a sudden outbreak. To prevent this, use a sunscreen or protective clothing whenever you’re out in the sun.
Weird Arthritis Rashes, Bumps and Blisters
This article reveals what weird rashes, bumps and blisters that occur with arthritis are and how and why they form.
Arthritis is a general term used to describe the inflammation of your joints. There are many types of arthritis such as Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis etc.
Rashes bumps and blisters can be caused by arthritis in a few ways:
Infection – Arthritis sufferers who suffer from a broken bone due to an accident are at risk of infection a sign of this could be unexplained bumps or lumps near the affected area.
Side effect of medication – some arthritis patients are given a drug called prednisone to reduce the swelling and pain of the inflamed joint. Although effective in reducing swelling and relieving pain, this drug can cause a range of side effects such as unusual lumps near the infected area.
Osteomyelitis – this is an infection of the bone and can cause unexplained lumps or bumps near the infected area.
How are they treated?
Rashes, bumps and blisters are not themselves a disease but rather a sign of another underlying condition. They are mainly caused by an infection that may require antibiotics to treat. Patients with rashes, bumps and blisters near an inflamed joint should contact their doctor immediately.
Carpal Tunnel and Other Weird Hand Conditions
This article reveals what weird conditions of the hand are, their symptoms, causes and treatments.
There are many hand conditions that can affect people of all ages. The most common hand condition is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) which affects millions of people worldwide. Other common hand conditions include DeQuervains Tenosynovitis and Trigger finger.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that results from pressure being placed on the median nerve which runs through a narrow passage called the carpal tunnel found at the base of the hand. The main symptoms of this syndrome are numbness, burning or tingling in the thumb, index finger and middle finger. There is also pain and tenderness when these fingers are bent and the pain can be felt in the palm, arm or shoulder.
DeQuervains Tenosynovitis
This condition occurs due to inflammation of a sheath that surrounds a tendon at the base of the thumb. The main symptom of this condition is pain when bending the thumb backwards towards the wrist. Other symptoms include redness and swelling around the base of the thumb and pain in the wrist itself.
Trigger Finger
This condition occurs due to the inflammation of a tendon which is found in the finger. The main symptom being an inability to bend a specific joint of the finger. This condition mainly affects middle-aged people however it can occur in younger people who perform repetitive motion using their hands such as professional musicians or sportspeople.
These are just some of the most common hand conditions found all over the world. There are other rarer conditions such as warts and hamartomas which can require medical treatment to cure however this will depend on the exact condition.
How common are hand conditions?
Hand conditions can be found everywhere in the world and can affect people of all ages. According to recent studies 2% of the general population has some sort of hand condition with Carpal tunnel syndrome and Trigger finger being the most common conditions.
Who is prone to getting hand conditions?
There are many factors that can increase the risk of getting a hand condition such as obesity, pregnancy, family history, age and using vibrating tools or working with vibrating machinery.
What are the complications?
Depending on the exact condition, complications can include pain, swelling, muscle weakness and in more serious cases surgery may be required to resolve the issue.
How can you prevent getting hand conditions?
The best way to prevent getting a hand condition is to avoid any risk factors that may increase your likelihood of developing it such as losing weight if you are overweight, taking frequent rest periods if you perform manual labor, adjusting your working area so that it is well lit and you have good posture and avoiding work that requires repetitive motions of the hands or wrists.
Hand conditions can be cured in most cases by non-surgical treatments such as wearing a splint or taking anti-inflammatory medication. In more rare cases surgery may be required to correct the issues causing the condition however this is quite uncommon when compared to the number of people who have hand conditions.
Sources & references used in this article:
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