About 1 in 3 people with psoriasis may develop PsA.
Psoriatic arthritis causes
A combination of factors is believed to influence whether someone is at risk for psoriatic arthritis, including your family history and genetics, environmental factors, and how your immune system functions.
- The inflammation associated with psoriatic arthritis is caused by an abnormal response of your immune system, which is your body’s system of defense against bacteria, viruses, and other harmful substances. In psoriatic arthritis, the immune system overreacts and mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues in the joints as well as in the skin.
- Psoriatic arthritis tends to run in families. Researchers have found that certain genes are linked to an increased risk of developing the disease.
- Substances in the environment, or an event such as a trauma, infection (such as a streptococcal throat infection), or contracting a virus are thought to possibly trigger psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis in people who have a genetic predisposition.
Could you have too much inflammation?
Who gets psoriatic arthritis?
It can take up to 10 years for joint symptoms to appear after skin symptoms appear.
PsA is equally common in men and women.
Most people develop psoriatic arthritis between 30 and 50 years of age, although it can develop at any age.
People without psoriasis can also develop psoriatic arthritis, particularly if they have a family member with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.
