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September 28, 2026 is Psoriatic Arthritis Awareness Day.
If you’ve heard of psoriasis, you probably know that it’s a skin disease that causes a red, itchy rash. However, the inflammation associated with psoriasis can also affect your joints, leading to a condition called psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Approximately one in three people with psoriasis also has PsA. Although men are just as likely as women to be diagnosed with the disease, women have a more difficult time with pain, disability and an overall reduced quality of life.
Understanding PsA, including what it looks like and treatment, can help you better manage the condition.
What causes psoriatic arthritis?
Researchers don’t know what causes PsA, although your genes may play a role. About two in five people with PsA have at least one close family member who also has PsA or psoriasis.
If you are already at genetic risk of developing PsA, it is possible that something in your environment (such as an injury or infection) is triggering the disease.
For people with psoriasis, the presence of psoriasis can be a risk factor for PsA. For example, people with scalp psoriasis are almost four times more likely to develop PsA than people without scalp psoriasis. And people with nail psoriasis are three times more likely to develop the disease.
Like psoriasis, PsA is an autoimmune disease. Normally, the immune system defends our body against “invaders” such as bacteria and viruses by triggering reactions such as inflammation that are intended to protect us.
In an autoimmune disease, the immune system incorrectly assumes that a healthy part of the body is an invader. Inflammation becomes harmful instead of protective because the body is essentially attacking itself. In PsA, this inflammation affects your joints and skin.
Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis
PsA is often unpredictable. The disease can occur gradually or all at once and symptoms can range from barely noticeable to debilitating. These symptoms include:
- Painful, swollen joints
- Scaly, inflamed areas of skin
- Extreme fatigue
- Swollen fingers and toes
- Lower back pain (spondylitis)
- Eye inflammation (uveitis)
- Tendon or ligament pain on the back of the heel or on the soles of the feet
- Changes to the fingernail such as dimples, horizontal lines or discoloration
PsA usually develops after psoriasis, but sometimes joint problems occur first. Symptoms to watch out for include Achilles tendon pain, plantar fasciitis, and joint stiffness in the morning that gets better with exercise.
How does psoriatic arthritis affect your body?
Joints and skin aren’t the only parts of the body affected by PsA. People with this disease may be at higher risk of developing other health problems. This includes:
Even if only your joints are affected, PsA can affect your well-being. Pain, swelling and stiffness can make even the simplest tasks challenging – and significantly impact your quality of life.
Diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis
Either your primary care doctor or a rheumatologist (joint specialist) can help you diagnose PsA. They will talk to you about your symptoms and ask you about your family history of the disease.
Next, they’ll likely use a combination of the following tools:
- Physical examination
- X-ray, ultrasound or other imaging examination
- Blood sample
The earlier PsA is detected, the better. Early diagnosis of PsA can prevent the disease from worsening and prevent irreversible damage.
How is psoriatic arthritis treated?
Once you have been diagnosed with PsA, there are many treatment options available to you. Some of them are:
- NSAIDs, medicines that can relieve pain and swelling
- Conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which help slow the disease and prevent joint damage
- Biological DMARDs (biologics) that target specific parts of the immune system that cause joint inflammation
- Targeted synthetic DMARDs, pills your doctor may prescribe that target immune pathways involved in PsA, especially when traditional and biologic DMARDs don’t help
Which medication is right for you depends on your individual circumstances, including your symptoms, lifestyle, and other health conditions.
Your doctor will review your options and help you create a treatment plan.
Self-care is health care
As you navigate your journey with PsA, there are steps you can take to make the road a little less bumpy. Consider making these self-care strategies part of your routine to support your physical and mental health.
- Lifestyle changes B. Prioritize sleep, minimize stress, and gently move your body through gentle exercises
- Physiotherapy strengthens the muscles around your joints and helps you stay mobile
- Emotional support, whether from loved ones or other people with PsA who understand what you are going through
Sometimes self-care means admitting that you can’t do everything yourself. Although it may be tempting to hide your PsA problems from your friends and family – perhaps because you don’t want to worry or inconvenience them, or because you feel like you should just get through it – don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Trust that the people who care about you want to know what’s going on with you and will help you in any way they can. All you have to do is ask.
Living well with PsA
Scientists have not yet found a cure for psoriatic arthritis, but that doesn’t mean this chronic disease has to control your life.
If you are struggling with symptoms that you think may be due to PsA, contact your primary care doctor or a rheumatologist. They can help you diagnose and together you can determine a treatment plan.
With a combination of medication and self-care—along with support from your community—you should be able to manage your PsA and continue living the life you love.
This educational resource was created with support from Merck and Takeda.
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