Skip to main content

5 Common Signs of Psoriatic Arthritis

5 Common Signs of Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriasis is a disease of your immune system that causes it to attack perfectly healthy tissue, as if that tissue were an invader. Your skin begins to malfunction. Instead of turning over and shedding dead cells, the cells linger on the surface, creating itchy and embarrassing plaques.

Your overstressed immune system may cause other symptoms, too. One common complication is psoriatic arthritis (PA). About a third of people with psoriasis go on to develop PA. 

At Specialists in Dermatology, our expert dermatologists diagnose and treat psoriasis and its complications at our offices in The Woodlands, Texas, and Houston, Texas. If you develop psoriatic arthritis, we may recommend additions or changes to your care.

Because psoriatic arthritis affects the tissues deep inside your joints, we often prescribe medications called “biologics,” which are cultures of living cells that help your body fight inflammation. Do you need to add biologics to your psoriatic care? Following are four signs that you might.

1. Your joints are stiff and painful

The classic sign of any type of arthritis is stiff, painful joints. You may feel stiffest in the morning or when you stand up after long periods of sitting.

Unlike other forms of arthritis, however, psoriatic arthritis may not affect your large joints. If you have psoriatic arthritis, your main stiffness and pain could be the small joints in your:

Psoriatic arthritis also has a tendency to develop at the intersection of bones, tendons, and ligaments. Two common areas that PA affects are your Achilles tendon in your heel and the plantar fascia on the sole of your foot.

2. Your fingers and toes are swollen

In addition to creating pain and stiffness, PA may actually make your fingers and toes swell. It’s common for digits affected by PA to resemble sausages. Your fingers and toes may also be deformed or difficult to move.

3. Your nails look strange

A classic symptom of PA is a change in the appearance and texture of the nails on your toes or fingers. Your nails may look extra thick. They could also be pitted. In severe cases, they crumble or separate from the nail bed.

4. Your back hurts

If you have PA, you may notice pain and stiffness in your lower back. The arthritis causes a condition called spondylitis, which inflames the joints between your vertebrae and also in the joints that attach your spine and pelvis.

5. Your eyes are inflamed

Unchecked, PA leads to inflammation in your eyes, a condition known as uveitis. Over time, uveitis may cause pain, blurry vision, and redness. Without treatment, uveitis could lead to blindness.

In addition to biologics, we may recommend lifestyle changes and vitamin supplements to help control inflammation and increase your mobility with PA. Biologics may replace, or be in addition to, the medications and therapies you currently use to manage your skin psoriasis.

Get ahead of psoriasis and PA by contacting our skin experts today at the Specialists in Dermatology location nearest you. You can also use our convenient online contact form.

You Might Also Enjoy...

4 Chronic Conditions That Cause Dry, Flaky Skin

4 Chronic Conditions That Cause Dry, Flaky Skin

When you have dry skin, it may not just be because of the winter winds or indoor heating. You may have an underlying, chronic condition that causes your skin to be dry, flaky, and uncomfortable, no matter the season or the weather.

How to Reduce Your Fine Lines Without Surgery

You aren’t ready for — and may never want — plastic surgery. You do want to look energized, refreshed, and youthful, which means getting rid of fine lines. Can you do that without surgery? Yes with dermal fillers, neurotoxins, and chemical peels.
5 Common Rosacea Triggers

5 Common Rosacea Triggers

Though you can’t cure rosacea, you can tame it. By learning your triggers and avoiding them whenever possible, you keep embarrassing blushes, flushes, and pustules to a minimum. Start with the most common, then find your personal triggers, too.

Using the ABCDE Method to Examine Your Moles

Whether you think of your moles as beauty marks or not, it pays to keep an eye on them. Normal moles are fairly stable throughout your life. Abnormal moles, which could be cancerous, change. Use your ABCDEs to keep track.
What's the Difference in Psoriasis and Eczema?

What's the Difference in Psoriasis and Eczema?

Dry, itchy, scaly skin is characteristic of two common skin conditions — psoriasis and eczema. Since they’re similar, does that mean they’re the same? Can you use the same treatments for both? No and sometimes. Here’s how they differ.
Yes, Warts Are Contagious

Yes, Warts Are Contagious

Many types of disfiguring skin conditions aren’t contagious, but warts — unfortunately — are. Not only can you pass warts to another person, you can pass them to previously unexposed parts of your own body. Here’s how to stop warts from spreading.