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Psoriatic Arthritis

What is psoriatic arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis that usually appears in people with a skin disease called psoriasis. Up to a third of people with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis affects both males and females equally, and usually appears between the ages of 30 and 50 years.

Psoriatic arthritis affects joints and entheses (An enthesis is where tendons and ligaments attach to bone. Entheses is plural), causing inflammation, pain, and possible joint damage. There is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, but when you are diagnosed early and start the right treatment, you can take control of your disease and avoid severe damage to your joints. Most people with psoriatic arthritis can lead active and productive lives with the help of the right treatment and self-management techniques.

Illustrations of a hand, ankle, and foot, showing areas that can be affected by psoriatic arthritis.
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People with psoriatic arthritis usually already have a diagnosis or symptoms of psoriasis. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system receives messages to “attack” the skin. This results in red, inflamed patches of skin that are covered with a scale (also called plaque). Psoriasis can involve only a few small patches of skin, or much larger areas of skin. Psoriasis can also develop in finger and toe nails. In most people, psoriasis tends to be mild, and some people do not even realize they have it at all. For people who develop symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, they typically appear after symptoms of psoriasis, but not always.

Click on the cards below to learn about psoriatic arthritis and how to manage it to live well.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Learn and recognize the symptoms and risk factors for psoriatic arthritis. Learn and recognize the symptoms and risk factors for psoriatic arthritis.

Treatment Options

Explore different ways to manage symptoms of psoriatic arthritis with treatment options. Explore different ways to manage symptoms of psoriatic arthritis with treatment options.

Inflammatory Arthritis Self-Management

Explore forms of self-management for inflammatory arthritis, including joint protection, exercises, relaxation techniques, and eating well. Explore forms of self-management for inflammatory arthritis, including joint protection, exercises, relaxation techniques, and eating well.

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Online Learning Guides

 

Learning modules to help you cope and thrive when living with psoriatic arthritis.

Icon of osteoarthritis knee pain
Managing Pain

Icon of couple exercising
Staying Active

Icon of nutritious salad
Eating Well

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Arthritis Talks Webinars

 

Arthritis Talks webinars on the latest guidance direct from arthritis experts to help you get more out of life with inflammatory arthritis.

Living Well with Psoriatic Arthritis: What You Need to Know (2016)

Rheumatologist Dr. Olga Ziouzima and pharmacist Alexandra Charlton discuss symptoms and treatment of psoriatic arthritis.
Rheumatologist Dr. Olga Ziouzima and pharmacist Alexandra Charlton discuss symptoms and treatment of psoriatic arthritis.

Inflammatory Arthritis: What you need to know

In this Arthritis Talks webinar, rheumatologist Dr. David Robinson zeroes in on what you really need to know about inflammatory...

In this Arthritis Talks webinar, rheumatologist Dr. David Robinson zeroes in on what you really need to know about inflammatory arthritis and how best to manage it.

Strategies to manage your emotional health

Psychologist Dr. Susan Bartlett discusses emotional wellbeing, and strategies to manage emotional health with arthritis.

Psychologist Dr. Susan Bartlett discusses emotional wellbeing, and strategies to manage emotional health with arthritis.

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This information was last updated January 2024, with expert advice from:

Vinod Chandran, MB BS MD DM PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Toronto
Staff Physician, Division of Rheumatology, University Health Network

* This illustration was created by Chidiebere Ibe and shared with us for use by Illustrate Change, a Johnson & Johnson initiative to increase representation in medical art and illustration. ©2022.
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