Which treatment option is NOT recommended for psoriatic arthritis?

The treatment option that is not recommended for psoriatic arthritis is steroids. While corticosteroids can provide rapid relief of inflammation and are sometimes used for acute flares, they are not the preferred long-term management option for psoriatic arthritis. The concern with steroids lies in their potential to exacerbate the psoriasis itself and other side effects associated with long-term use, such as osteoporosis, weight gain, and metabolic syndrome.

In contrast, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often used to manage mild pain and inflammation associated with psoriatic arthritis. They can be very effective for symptom management. Anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) medications and methotrexate are also recommended treatments, especially for patients with more severe forms of the disease or those who do not respond adequately to NSAIDs alone. Both options target the underlying inflammatory processes more effectively than corticosteroids do, contributing to better long-term disease control without the risks associated with steroids.