This informational guide, part of POPSUGAR's Condition Center, lays out the realities of this health concern: what it is, what it can look like, and strategies that medical experts say are proven to help. You should always consult your doctor regarding matters pertaining to your health and before starting any course of medical treatment.
Psoriasis affects about three percent of American adults, but the disorder can raise the risk of having more than skin scales and plaques. About 30 percent of people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis, a painful condition that can cause joint swelling and stiffness.
Doctors aren't entirely sure why some people with psoriasis go on to develop psoriatic arthritis, but the condition can have a big impact on daily life. Psoriatic arthritis is sometimes diagnosed before psoriasis, making it important to have symptoms of both conditions on your radar. Here's what psoriatic arthritis is, as well as how it's diagnosed and treated.
Psoriatic arthritis is a "chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when your immune system mistakenly starts attacking healthy joints and skin," says Jennifer Gurske-dePerio, MD, a clinical assistant professor in the University at Buffalo's orthopedics department. It can cause severe joint inflammation and it usually happens along with psoriasis, adds Orrin Troum, MD, a rheumatologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica.
Psoriatic arthritis can range from mild to severe, and it may lead to significant joint damage and disability if not treated properly, explains Paras Karmacharya, MD, the director of the Vanderbilt Psoriatic Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis Center.
Psoriatic arthritis is usually broken down into five types. According to Dr. Troum, those include:
Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis can vary from person to person, but they generally include the following, according to Dr. Karmacharya:
The cause of psoriatic arthritis isn't clear, but experts have a few hypotheses and thoughts surrounding risk factors and potential causes, including:
"Factors such as physical or emotional stress, injury to the skin, infections, and possibly certain drugs may trigger the onset of psoriatic arthritis in genetically susceptible individuals," Dr. Karmacharya adds. This includes those with a family history of psoriasis or certain genes associated with psoriasis. But ultimately, having psoriasis remains "the most significant risk factor for developing psoriatic arthritis," he says.
Diagnosing psoriatic arthritis can be challenging, and there are no blood tests or other single diagnostic tests for the condition, per Dr. Karmacharya.
When you see a doctor, they'll usually ask questions about your health and examine your skin, scalp, and nails, Dr. Gurske-dePerio says. "Your healthcare provider then might take a small sample of skin for examination under a microscope. This helps determine the type of psoriasis and rule out other disorders."
Other diagnoses like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or infection may need to be ruled out with a combination of your medical history, an exam from your doctor, and lab work, per Dr. Gurske-dePerio.
There is no cure for psoriatic arthritis. Treatment typically centers around pain management and depends on the severity of the condition. For milder forms of psoriatic arthritis, medications like over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain medications can help to treat pain and swelling, while corticosteroid injections can help tamp down on inflammation in the joints, Dr. Troum tells PS.
For more severe forms of the disease, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics can help suppress the immune system and lower side effects of the condition, per Dr. Troum.
Ultimately, "each patient is different and has different risk factors to consider," Dr. Gurske-dePerio explains.
Korin Miller is a writer specializing in general wellness, health, and lifestyle trends. Her work has appeared in Women's Health, Self, Health, Forbes, and more.