Psoriatic arthritis symptoms

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, inflammatory disease that can cause irreversible joint damage and affect other parts of your body, so it’s important to discuss your symptoms with your PsA specialist. The sooner psoriatic arthritis is

the sooner it can be managed appropriately.

Psoriatic arthritis symptoms include skin symptoms like red, scaly skin patches known as skin plaques, as well as joint symptoms like joint pain and swelling. Because joint symptoms in PsA can appear after skin symptoms, some people who actually have PsA may be diagnosed with psoriasis (Ps). Additionally, psoriatic arthritis symptoms usually flare and then diminish, vary from person to person, and can change locations in the same person over time.

Common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis may include:

Woman holding her swollen knee in pain

Psoriatic arthritis typically affects the ankles, knees, fingers, toes, and lower back—and can cause joint damage if not treated appropriately. People with PsA may experience joint pain, swelling, and tenderness in one or more joints, as well as stiffness—particularly in the morning or after a period of rest.

The impact of psoriatic arthritis symptoms

The pain and discomfort of red, scaly skin patches as well as the joint pain, swelling, and stiffness of psoriatic arthritis can have a negative impact on your

—making even your regular, daily activities difficult. PsA can make it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. Upon waking up in the morning, some patients experience stiffness that can last more than 30 minutes. Additionally, if the joints of the feet, ankles, or knees are affected, routine tasks like walking or getting out of a chair can be painful.

If you've experienced any of the symptoms above and/or are having trouble doing things like getting out of bed, cutting your own food, combing your hair, brushing your teeth or buttoning your clothes, tell your doctor.

Watch This 15-Second Video – Then Take the PsA Symptom Quiz

Find out if your skin and joint symptoms could have something in common: psoriatic arthritis.

Quick Poll

Have you been diagnosed with PsA, Ps, or neither? Select one.

Since you selected PsA, you might want to learn more about PsA inflammation and disease progression.

Thank you for your response. Our personalized guide can help make each appointment more effective.

Since you selected "neither," find out if your skin and joint symptoms could be psoriatic arthritis.

Information icon

PsA
FACT

About 1 in 3 people with psoriasis may develop PsA. People with PsA may also have other conditions involving the eyes, heart, and/or GI tract.

Other conditions that are associated with psoriatic arthritis

In addition to psoriasis, some people with PsA may have diseases that have been shown to be associated with PsA, including:

Heart with bandaid icon

Heart disease

Obese person icon

Obesity

Eye icon

Eye disease (uveitis—an inflammatory condition)

IBD icon

IBD (inflammatory bowel disease, like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)

If any of these symptoms seem familiar, talk to your doctor.

Envelope icon

Get a FREE Kit with Recipes and More

Sign up to get a helpful resource with easy recipes, tips, symptom tracker, and more to help you fight PsA.

Psoriatic Arthritis doctor icon

Find a Psoriatic Arthritis Doctor

Find a rheumatologist, an expert on both the diagnosis and management of psoriatic arthritis.

Sources: 1. Comparing rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Updated December 9, 2019. Accessed August 10, 2020. https://www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/special/comparing-rheumatoid-arthritis-and-osteoarthritis/aa19377.html. 2. Difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. University of Michigan Health. Accessed August 10, 2020. https://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/cmc/difference-between-osteoarthritis-and-rheumatoid-arthritis. 3. Gottlieb A, Korman NJ, Gordon KB, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: section 2. Psoriatic arthritis: overview and guidelines of care for treatment with an emphasis on the biologics. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;58(5)851-864. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2008.02.040. 4. Gottlieb A, Merola JF. Psoriatic arthritis for dermatologists. J Dermatolog Treat. 2019;1-18. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2019.1605142. 5. Hammadi AA. Psoriatic arthritis. Medscape. Updated July 15, 2020. Accessed August 10, 2020. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2196539-overview. 6. Krajewska-Włodarczyk M, Owczarczyk-Saczonek A, Placek W. Fatigue - an underestimated symptom in psoriatic arthritis. Reumatologia. 2017;55(3):125-130. doi:10.5114/reum.2017.68911. 7. Lee S, Mendelsohn A, Sarnes E. The burden of psoriatic arthritis: a literature review from a global health systems perspective. P T. 2010;35(12):680-689. 8. McKenna SP, et al. Development of the PsAQoL: a quality of life instrument specific to psoriatic arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2004;63:162–169. doi: 10.1136/ard.2003.006296. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1754880/pdf/v063p00162. 9. Psoriatic arthritis. American College of Rheumatology. Updated March 2019. Accessed August 10, 2020. https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Psoriatic-Arthritis. 10. Psoriatic arthritis. Arthritis Foundation. Accessed August 10, 2020. https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/psoriatic-arthritis. 11. Psoriatic arthritis: symptoms & causes. Mayo Clinic. September 21, 2019. Accessed August 10, 2020. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/psoriatic-arthritis/symptoms-causes/dxc-20233899.