English
September 28, 2026 is Psoriatic Arthritis Awareness Day.
If you’ve heard of psoriasis, you probably know that it’s a skin condition that causes a red, itchy rash. However, the inflammation associated with psoriasis can also affect your joints, causing a condition called psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
About one in three people with psoriasis also suffers from PsA. While men are diagnosed with the disease more often, women struggle more with pain, disability and an overall poorer quality of life due to the disease.
Understanding PsA, what it looks like and how it is treated, may help you live better with the disease.
What causes psoriatic arthritis?
Researchers don’t know what causes PsA, but it’s thought your genes may play an important role. About two in five people with PsA have at least one close relative who also has PsA or psoriasis.
If you already have a genetic risk of developing PsA, another factor (such as an injury or infection) could potentially trigger this condition.
For people with psoriasis, the location where it occurs can be a risk factor for PsA. For example, people with scalp psoriasis are 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 condition.
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 is more harmful than protective because the body is essentially attacking itself. In PsA, the inflammation affects your joints and skin.
Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis
PsA is often unpredictable. The disorder may develop gradually or suddenly and symptoms may be barely noticeable or debilitating. These symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Joint inflammation and pain
- Scabby, crusty areas with inflammation on the skin
- extreme fatigue
- Inflamed fingers
- 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 fingernails such as: E.g. scarred nails, horizontal lines or discoloration
PsA usually develops after psoriasis, but sometimes joint problems occur first. Symptoms to monitor include Achilles tendon pain, plantar fasciitis, and joint stiffness that improves 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 disorder may be at higher risk of developing other medical problems. These include:
- anemia
- depression
- diabetes
- High cholesterol and blood pressure levels
- obesity
Even if only your joints are affected, PsA can affect your well-being. Pain, inflammation, and stiffness can make even the simplest tasks difficult and seriously impact your quality of life.
Diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis
Your primary care doctor or a rheumatologist (joint specialist) may be able to help you diagnose PsA. He or she will talk to you about your symptoms and ask about your family history of the disorder.
Then you’ll probably use a combination of the following resources:
- physical examination
- X-ray, ultrasound or other imaging tests
- Blood sample
The earlier PsA is detected, the better. Early diagnosis of PsA can prevent worsening of this disease and irreversible lesions.
How is psoriatic arthritis treated?
Once you are diagnosed with PsA, you have many treatment options available. Some of them are:
- NSAIDs, medications that can reduce pain and inflammation
- Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which can slow the progression of this disease and prevent joint injuries
- Biological DMARDs (biopharmaceuticals) that specifically target parts of the immune system that cause joint inflammation
- Targeted synthetic DMARDs, pills your doctor may prescribe that specifically target the immune pathways involved in PsA, especially when traditional and biologic DMARDs are not helpful
Which medication is right for you depends on your individual circumstances, including your symptoms, lifestyle, and other medical conditions.
Your doctor will evaluate your options and help you create a treatment plan.
Self-care is health care
As you control your APs, you can take steps to make your process less difficult. Consider incorporating these self-care strategies into your routine to support your physical and mental health.
- Lifestyle changes For example, prioritize sleep, minimize stress, and move your body gently with low-impact exercises
- Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that surround your joints and help with your mobility
- Emotional support, whether from loved ones or other people with PsA, who understand what is happening to you
Sometimes self-care means admitting that you can’t do everything yourself. Although it may be tempting to hide the difficulties caused by PsA from your friends and family, perhaps because you don’t want to cause them discomfort or worry, or because you feel like you should just endure these difficulties, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Trust that your loved ones want to know what is happening to you and will help you as best they can. All you have to do is ask.
Living well with APs
Scientists have not yet found a cure for psoriatic arthritis, but that doesn’t mean this chronic condition has to control your life.
If you have symptoms that you think may be due to PsA, contact your doctor or a rheumatologist. It can help you diagnose and you can decide on a treatment plan together.
With a combination of medication and self-care, as well as support from your community, you should be able to get your PsA under control and continue to enjoy the life you love.
This educational resource was created with support from Merck.
From your website articles
Related articles on the Internet
