6 Facts About Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)

Untreated PsA can cause severe joint problems and related health issues. There is no cure, but many therapies can help control symptoms and prevent the progression of the disease and damage to the joints.

PsA will occur more often after psoriasis in men than in women. It’s believed that around 20 % of individuals with psoriasis will eventually develop it.

For most PsA, the person affected would have had psoriasis for 7–10 years (Trusted Source). So, for anyone with psoriasis, It should be on your radar.

Let that soak in, but continue reading to learn key details about this kind of arthritis, such as how it can be contracted, what the signs are, and what can be done.

Psoriatic arthritis is a condition with autoimmune characteristics.

PsA is believed to be an immune-mediated disease, Trusted Source. The condition is more like an autoimmune disease, with the immune system attacking healthy tissue.

However, unlike true autoimmune diseases, no particular antibody is the culprit for the symptoms.

You are important to us – Respect for your privacy.

Psoriatic arthritis can involve many parts of the body.

If you have PsA, you will have inflammation in the affected tissues, which can become painful and damaged as time goes on. Your symptoms may include:

• rash
• joint swelling and pain
• pitted nails

When you have RA, you may avoid symptoms like swelling, pain, and warmth in your fingers, particularly the joints closest to your fingernails. Heavy swelling of the fingers and toes can also be known as dactylitis.

Some of your wrists, knees, and ankles might develop symptoms of PsA, too. The joint pain usually occurs in an asymmetric pattern. You can have symptoms in different joints on opposite sides of your body. For instance, you may get PsA in your left hand and right ankle.

The spine or hips may become involved in some individuals as the disorder advances. In those with more severe PsA, the immune system may also ”attack” internal organs, like your heart and lungs.

PsA can occur at any age and equally in both genders.

Unlike most other autoimmune-like diseases, PsA can occur at any age. Many are diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 50, but the disease can begin in childhood.

Additionally, although most autoimmune disorders are more prevalent in women, there are equal numbers of women and men with PsA.

[the words ”male” and “female”])

In this article, we will use “male and female” when referring to someone’s biological sex—sex chromosomes—and “men and women” when referring to gender (unless the quotation is from a source using nonspecific language).

Sex is chromosomal, and gender is socially constructed and can differ based on the era and the cultural context. Both of these elements are recognized to occur across a spectrum historically and by current scientific consensus.

Psoriatic arthritis can also lead to other health issues.

The manifestations of PsA include skin plaques and joint pain. High levels of inflammation can also contribute to fatigue. It can be intermittent, so severe that it interferes with your daily activities, like work. Fatigue may also bring along a low-grade fever.

Some people also have eye changes. That can mean physical symptoms like redness, irritation, and pain — over-the-counter eye drops can soothe various pink eye symptoms. Chronic eye inflammation might also be responsible for vision problems, including blurry vision.

Untreated, however, this condition can cause additional, more severe, long-term health issues. Your baby may have some abdominal problems, problems with breathing, and heart problems.

You would even be more at risk for osteoporosis (Trusted Source) and metabolic syndrome (Trusted Source) if you have PsA. Metabolic syndrome is a catchall for a cluster of conditions linked to heart disease, like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

Various tests are done to diagnose psoriatic arthritis

There is no one test for diagnosing PsA. Instead, your doctor will examine your skin for signs of psoriasis and joint problems and ask about your skin and joints.

A skin biopsy can be ordered to confirm psoriasis if you haven’t already been diagnosed with the skin condition.

A doctor may then request a skin biopsy to confirm psoriasis. Blood tests that could show inflammation in the body, such as the SRF blood test, are necessary to distinguish PsA from other rheumatic diseases. Those with PsA are often RF-negative, Trusted Source.

A positive result may mean that one has rheumatoid arthritis instead. But you can bet your doctor will be ordering additional testing.

Just like in psoriasis, what triggers the immune response in PsA isn’t known, but something is causing your immune system to attack your  joints and tissues. Imaging tests (an ultrasound, an MRI, or an X-ray) can also help your doctor pinpoint which PsA might impact specific joints.

A doctor may also check for these because it is possible to develop one of several different autoimmune diseases. Such examples include IBD, autoimmune thyroid diseases, and type 1 diabetes.

Psoriatic arthritis generally requires a multifaceted treatment approach.

The treatment of PsA aims to prevent joint damage and pain from underlying inflammation. This includes a mix of medication, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS and differs depending on whether the disease mainly involves the spine or other joints.

You may still want to work with a dermatologist to treat your psoriasis symptoms. This can include some of the same drugs that treat PsA and other medications (like corticosteroids or salicylic acid).

There’s no cure for PsA. Instead, treatment focuses on managing flares or worsening episodes of symptoms.

Proper treatment can mean less inflammation and fewer flare-ups. It can also lower the risk of additional health problems associated with PsA.

Frequently asked questions

What is the primary cause of psoriatic arthritis?

The causes of psoriatic arthritis are not the same for everyone, and its triggers are highly personal. CPsoriatic arthritis and autoimmune-related conditions may have a FAMILIAL component.

In addition to a potential genetic connection, psoriatic arthritis can be provoked by stress, physical trauma, and infection.

What not to do when you have psoriatic arthritis?

Since some foods can provoke PsA flares, it might be a good idea to cut out or reduce added sugar, red meat, processed foods, dairy, and alcohol.

What is life expectancy with psoriatic arthritis?

There is no cure, but proper treatment can allow most people with PsA to live typical life spans.

How fast does psoriatic arthritis develop?

PsA tends to emerge in individuals with psoriasis about 10 years after the onset of psoriasis. However, as you mention, the research is not there to quantify the development of PsA without psoriasis, and the percentage of people who develop PsA without psoriasis is likely not high.

The takeaway

If untreated, PsA can result in deteriorating joint problems and other health issues. There’s no cure, but you have several therapies to help control your symptoms, lower the number of flares you get, and stop complications related to the disease.

Consult a dermatologist or your primary care doctor if you have psoriasis or joint pain and inflammation. They might direct you to a rheumatologist who can diagnose and treat PsA.