About 1 in 3 people with psoriasis may develop psoriatic arthritis.
What is a rheumatologist?
Rheumatologists are often the best doctors to see for psoriatic arthritis, as they have additional training to
and treat inflammatory arthritis and related inflammatory diseases that affect the joints, muscles, bones, skin, and other tissues. If chronic
psoriatic arthritis can cause irreversible joint damage over time, so it’s important to get a proper diagnosis and work with your rheumatologist to manage your condition.
- If you are seeing a primary care physician who suspects you have psoriatic arthritis, he or she may refer you to a rheumatologist.
- If you are seeing a dermatologist, he or she may diagnose and treat your psoriatic arthritis or refer you to a rheumatologist.
It is important to talk to your specialist—whether a dermatologist or rheumatologist—about both your skin and joint symptoms to help with an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
Make the most of your doctor appointments
Having open and honest conversations with your rheumatologist and setting treatment goals can help you get the most out of your treatment plan. The Doctor Discussion Guide can help you prepare for your appointments and make them more productive. You should feel comfortable discussing your personal goals (which could include walking, traveling, enjoying an active lifestyle) and any future activities that could be impacted by your PsA. To help you reach these goals, a rheumatologist may use an index called MDA (Minimal Disease Activity) to assess how PsA is affecting you.
Get the right
Doctor Discussion Guide for you
If you’ve been diagnosed with PsA:
- Download and complete this guide and bring it to your appointment.
- Walk through your answers with your rheumatologist so they understand your symptoms and can review whether you're meeting your treatment goals.
Not diagnosed with PsA? Download the right guide for you here.
Email me the Doctor Discussion Guide for my next appointment
Don’t forget to follow up with your rheumatologist. If you didn’t address every topic you wanted to cover during your appointment, forgot to ask a question, or are confused about something your rheumatologist said, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor’s office and get the answers you're looking for. Continuous, clear, and open communication with your healthcare providers is essential to getting the care you need.
PsA Facts
About 85% of people with psoriatic arthritis develop skin symptoms like red, flaky patches known as plaques before they develop joint symptoms.
Joint pain may appear within 10 years after skin symptoms first appear.
Sources: 1. Gottlieb A, Merola JF. Psoriatic arthritis for dermatologists. J Dermatolog Treat. 2019;1-18. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2019.1605142. 2. 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. 3. Psoriatic arthritis. American College of Rheumatology. Updated March 2019. Accessed August 15, 2020. https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Psoriatic-Arthritis
