Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system damages the lining of the joints. This causes inflammation in the joints, causing tenderness, swelling, pain and redness in the affected joints. Inflammation can also lead to skin problems, including lumps and ulcers. Scroll to Step 1 for more information.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Treating Rheumatoid Nodules
Step 1. Avoid contaminating the nodules
Although rheumatoid arthritis nodules are often benign (meaning they can't harm you), they can become infected and cause irritation. You need to have good daily hygiene to make sure the lumps do not become infected.
- Do not scratch the lumps, as damaging the skin can increase the chances of infection.
- Shower as you normally would, trying to use a mild soap.
Step 2. Apply resorcinol cream twice a day
This type of cream can help shrink lumps and prevent them from becoming infected. When using this cream, be careful not to get it into your nose, mouth or eyes, as it can cause serious irritation.
You can typically apply this topical cream twice a day, but read the instructions on the package carefully
Step 3. Try salicylic acid cream to treat lumps
Salicylic acid helps the body form new skin cells that rejuvenate it and heal lumps. Wash your skin with warm soapy water before applying the cream.
You can apply this type of cream once in the morning
Step 4. Use Vitamin D Creams
Vitamin D helps the skin generate new, stronger cells and speed up the healing process. You can apply a thin layer of the cream directly on the lump, but avoid putting it on other parts of the skin, it could cause irritation.
A common vitamin D cream is Dovonex, which you can apply to the skin twice a day
Step 5. Don't wash your skin too much
Even if you try to wash off the rash or lumps, it is actually advisable to avoid over-washing the skin. Excessive cleaning of the skin can cause irritation, leading to further damage.
Choose mild soaps to wash your face. If your skin has cracks, you should consider washing yourself with disinfectant soaps
Step 6. Avoid massaging the lumps
Even if the lumps are annoying, you shouldn't massage them. Massaging them can aggravate inflammation, making the lumps larger.
Try not to compress the lumps. For example, if you have a lump on your forearm, try not to lean on that part of your arm when you sit down
Step 7. Take pain relievers if the lumps become painful
If the lumps start to become painful, you can take pain relievers (also called analgesics) that will keep the pain under control. There are also pain relievers that reduce inflammation around the lump and in the joints; these are called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
- An analgesic is acetaminophen, which you can take three times a day.
- One NSAID is ibuprofen. You can take 1 or 2 tablets three times a day.
Step 8. Take corticosteroids to shrink the lumps
Corticosteroids help reduce inflammation in the nodules and joints. In addition to relieving inflammation rather quickly, they also serve to shrink lumps over time..
Talk to your doctor about the corticosteroids you should take to treat your specific case of rheumatoid arthritis
Step 9. Know that these nodules are often benign
The lumps caused by rheumatoid arthritis are usually benign, meaning they do not cause any harm to the body. However, if ulcers develop from the nodules, it is important to treat the damaged skin, because the ulcers can lead to infection (see Method Two for more information).
Method 2 of 4: Treating Rheumatoid Ulcers
Step 1. Cleanse the ulcers
When treating an ulcer, you need to remove any residue and dead tissue from the ulcer before wrapping it. Clean the ulcer with warm water and antibacterial soap to remove any bacteria that may be causing infection.
Once the ulcer is clean, you can cover it with a bandage to keep bacteria away from the wound
Step 2. Use compression bandages
Once the ulcer is cleaned and bandaged, you can put a compression bandage on the wound. Compression bandages are made to improve circulation in the affected area, preventing further ulcers from developing. Ulcers often arise because there is not enough blood in a certain area, leading to tissue death and the formation of an ulcer.
Step 3. Be patient while you wait for the ulcer to heal
Some ulcers may take longer than others to heal. If you have rheumatoid arthritis ulcers, these wounds can take months to heal completely. Try to be patient and continue to heal them as they heal.
Step 4. Get antibiotic treatment if the ulcer becomes infected
In severe cases, the ulcers can become infected. To treat the infection, you should get antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. These antibiotics are in tablet or cream form..
- Antibiotic cream can usually be applied three times a day, but ask your doctor for more specific instructions.
- A common antibiotic tablet is penicillin. The normal dose is between 100 and 150 mg / kg per day, ask your doctor for more precise instructions.
Step 5. Consider a skin graft for ulcers that won't heal
After following the steps mentioned above, the ulcers should begin to heal. However, if this does not happen, skin transplantation (where the skin is taken from a different part of your body or from a donor) has been shown to help heal persistent ulcers.
Talk to your doctor about a skin transplant. It is not a common procedure, but it can help heal the ulcer
Method 3 of 4: Change Your Diet
Step 1. Eat protein-rich foods
Protein-rich foods aid in the repair of worn out tissues. They can also help strengthen the immune system, which helps the skin not get infections. You should eat at least 50g of protein per day. Foods rich in protein are:
- Lean fish and meat such as poultry.
- Beans and lentils.
- Nuts and legumes.
Step 2. Increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables can give you many of the nutrients your body needs to fight infection. Aim to eat at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day.
You can also eat canned fruits and vegetables, even if they contain more sugar than fresh ones
Step 3. Get more vitamin E to keep skin healthy
Vitamin E helps keep skin healthy by rejuvenating cells and keeping them infection-free. You can take vitamin E supplements or eat foods that contain a lot of it. You should consume about 15 mg per day. These foods include:
- Broccoli.
- Trout.
- Pumpkin.
- Avocado.
- Walnuts.
Method 4 of 4: Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
Step 1. Try antirheumatic modifying drugs
Antirheumatic modifying drugs are a group of drugs specifically designed to combat rheumatoid arthritis. Although there are many of these drugs, methotrexate is one of the most prescribed and generally thought of as the standard treatment for this disease.
Two other specific drugs are hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine, both of which are usually prescribed regularly
Step 2. Consider biological therapy
This is a relatively new procedure that has been shown to combat what triggers rheumatoid arthritis. In particular, biological therapy targets cytokines, organisms that promote inflammation in the joints.
Ask your doctor if biological therapy is right for you
Step 3. Take manganese supplements
Manganese is a mineral prescribed for home use when treating rheumatoid arthritis. It is thought that taking manganese supplements can reduce the effects of rheumatoid arthritis on the body, although this connection is still being researched. Talk to your doctor before taking manganese supplements.
Step 4. Try a combination of all of these treatments
If you try one of these treatments and it's not as effective as you hoped, ask your doctor whether to try a combination of these.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients often have to take more than one drug to improve their situation
Advice
- If you have rheumatoid arthritis and you recently notice an ulcer or lump developing, make an appointment with a doctor to discuss ways to control skin problems.
- Ask the doctor about the surgery who removes the nodules. Nodules are usually benign, so surgery is only considered as a last resort.
