10 Things to Know About Psoriatic Arthritis

Doctor William C Lloyd Healthgrades Medical Reviewer
Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Written By Cindy Kuzma on September 14, 2022
  • Things to Know About Psoriatic Arthritis
    When Your Immune System Attacks Your Joints
    When you have psoriasis, your body's immune system revs up to battle the skin disease. But sometimes the cells that fight psoriasis turn on your joints instead. The resulting condition, called psoriatic arthritis, causes joint pain and redness, swelling, and trouble moving. Prompt treatment can prevent lasting joint damage.
  • Psoriasis
    1. Doctors are still investigating its mysteries.
    It's still not clear why some people develop psoriatic arthritis and others don't. About 40 percent of people with psoriatic arthritis have a family history, which points to a genetic risk. Outside factors—including infections, injuries, and smoking—may also play a role. About 85 percent of people who develop psoriatic arthritis have skin psoriasis first.
  • Signs May Develop Slowly or Quickly
    2. Signs may develop slowly or quickly.
    As with most types of arthritis, joint pain is the most common symptom of psoriatic arthritis. Others include fatigue, low back pain, and changes in your nails. Your fingers and toes may feel hot or swell up. For some people, symptoms start slowly and worsen with time. Others feel sudden, severe pain.
  • Not Everyone With Psoriasis Gets Arthritis
    3. Not everyone with psoriasis gets arthritis.
    Doctors estimate that less than half of people with psoriasis will develop associated joint pain. Symptoms typically appear between ages 30 and 50 and an average of 10 years after a psoriasis diagnosis. Men and women get the disease about equally, as do those with mild or severe skin disease.
  • There Are Five Types of Psoriatic Arthritis
    4. There are five types of psoriatic arthritis.
    Symmetric arthritis affects the same joints on both sides of the body, while asymmetric arthritis doesn't strike equally. Distal interphalangeal predominant arthritis causes pain in the ends of fingers and toes. Spondylitis affects the spinal column. Finally, arthritis mutilans is a rare but severe and destructive form.
  • Close-up of Caucasian male on couch holding ice pack on knee
    5. Many people remain undiagnosed.
    A recent National Psoriasis Foundation survey found about 2 million Americans have been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. However, many weren't diagnosed until an average of two years after their first symptoms. And about one in five people with psoriasis without a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis reported symptoms such as swelling and pain in their joints.
  • blood-vial-over-cortisol-test-results
    6. There's no single test to spot psoriatic arthritis.
    Talk with your doctor if you have symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. He or she may do blood tests, take X-rays or scans, examine your joints, and ask you about your symptoms. This helps rule out other types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
  • Specialists Help You Get the Best Treatment
    7. Specialists help you get the best treatment.
    Your primary care doctor or dermatologist may be the first person you see when you have a problem. If you have symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, he or she may recommend you see a rheumatologist as well. This doctor has special training in identifying and treating all types of arthritis.
  • Treatment Relieves Symptoms, Slows Joint Damage
    8. Treatment relieves symptoms, slows joint damage.
    There is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, but treatments can help you feel better and make life easier. Options range from over-the-counter medications to prescription drugs, injections, and surgery. Some therapies also protect your joints from damage that occurs as the disease progresses—so it's important to get treatment early.
  • Medications Reduce Pain and Inflammation
    9. Medications reduce pain and inflammation.
    Your doctor may first recommend anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen and naproxen. If your arthritis doesn't respond, drugs called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are next. Some examples of these include sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), and secukinumab (Cosentyx).
  • Woman with exercise ball
    10. Lifestyle changes also help.
    Losing weight relieves pressure on your joints. Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains ensures your body gets enough nutrients. Hot baths or cold packs can relieve pain and swelling. And doing arthritis-friendly exercises loosens joints, strengthens muscles, and improves your overall health.
10 Things to Know About Psoriatic Arthritis
  1. Association Between Environmental Factors and Onset of Psoriatic Arthritis in Patients With Psoriasis. L. Eder, et al. Arthritis Care & Research. August 2011, vol. 63, no. 8 , pp 1091–97. 
  2. Do patients with psoriatic arthritis who present early fare better than those presenting later in the disease? D. D. Gladman, et al. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. December 2011, Volume 70, Issue 12, pp. 2152-4. 
  3. One in four people with psoriasis may have undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis. National Psoriasis Foundation, Oct. 5, 2011. 
  4. Smoking and risk of incident psoriatic arthritis in US women. W. Li, et al. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Nov. 8, 2011, epub ahead of print.
  5. Psoriatic arthritis: Genetics Home Reference, U.S. National Library of Medicine, January 2011 (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/psoriatic-arthritis
  6. Psoriatic arthritis, American Academy of Dermatology, 2011 (http://www.aad.org/skin-conditions/dermatology-a-to-z/psoriatic-arthritis
  7. What Is Psoriatic Arthritis? Arthritis Foundation, 2011 (http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=21
  8. How Is Psoriatic Arthritis Diagnosed? Arthritis Foundation, 2011 (http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=21&df=diagnosed
  9. What Can You Do About Psoriatic Arthritis? Arthritis Foundation, 2011 (http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=21&df=treatments
  10. Who Gets Psoriatic Arthritis? Arthritis Foundation, 2011 (http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=21&df=whos_at_risk
  11. Psoriatic arthritis, PubMed Health, June 29, 2011 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001450/?report=printable
  12. About psoriatic arthritis, National Psoriasis Foundation, 2011 (http://www.psoriasis.org/psoriatic-arthritis
  13. Diagnosing psoriatic arthritis. National Psoriasis Foundation, 2011 (http://www.psoriasis.org/psoriatic-arthritis/diagnosis
  14. Frequently asked questions about psoriatic arthritis, National Psoriasis Foundation, 2011 (http://www.psoriasis.org/psoriatic-arthritis/faqs
  15. Living a healthy lifestyle with psoriatic arthritis, National Psoriasis Foundation, 2011 (http://www.psoriasis.org/psoriatic-arthritis/living-well/diet
  16. Types of psoriatic arthritis, National Psoriasis Foundation, 2011 (http://www.psoriasis.org/psoriatic-arthritis/types
  17. 2011 Survey Panel Snapshot, National Psoriasis Foundation, 2011 (http://www.psoriasis.org/research/survey-panels/current-survey-panel
  18. Psoriatic Arthritis Fact Sheet, American College of Rheumatology, July 2011 (http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/psoriaticarthritis.as...)
Was this helpful?
1201
Last Review Date: 2022 Sep 14
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.