Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsInflammationWhat Is Psoriasis?AppearanceEarly SignsTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Inflammation
What Is Psoriasis?
Appearance
Early Signs
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Psoriasisis a skin condition that causes skin cells to build up too quickly and form scales and itchy, dry patches. Research reported in the medical journalDrugsfinds up to 40% of people with psoriasis will go on to developpsoriaticarthritis (PsA) within five to 10 years after beingdiagnosed with psoriasis.The skin lesions that commonly affect people with PsA are related to psoriasis.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
PsA Inflammation
PsA is known for causing joint swelling and inflammation in the knees, ankles, feet, and hands. Joints may get painful, puffy, warm, and red. Stiff joints are common in PsA, especially in the morning upon waking. PsA may also cause pain and stiffness in the upper and lower back, neck and buttocks, resulting from inflammation of the spine and hip bones.
If PsA affects the fingers and toes, these joints may take on a sausage-like shape. While rare, sometimes, inflammation in the fingers and toes can be destructive. Hand and finger deformities will make them harder to use. Toe and foot deformities will result in balance and mobility issues. People with PsA may also have fingernail and toenail problems, including dents and ridges in the nails.
The same inflammation affecting the joints also affects the tendons where the muscles connect to the bones. For example, theAchilles tendonaffects the heel of the foot and makes it harder to walk and go up steps.
PsA inflammation may also affect the eyes, especially the iris, the colored part of the eye. And while rare, chest pain and shortness of breath affect some people with PsA. This is because inflammation may attack the chest wall, lungs, and aorta, the large blood vessel that extends from the heart.
Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis
While the skin symptoms of PsA will come and go, they tend to be associated with specific triggers. Triggers of PsA rash include stress, diet, cold temperatures, infections, and other illnesses.
PsA and psoriasis have no cures. But people with both conditions can experience periods of remission where they will have little or no disease activity, including no skin symptoms. They can also experience periods of flare-ups where the disease and its many symptoms are active.
Can PsA Occur Without Psoriasis?For many people with PsA, they will have had psoriasis for many years before developing PsA. However, there are cases where people develop PsA first. Research reported in the medical journalAnnals of the Rheumatic Diseasesfinds as many as 29% of people with psoriasis may have undiagnosed PsA.
Can PsA Occur Without Psoriasis?
For many people with PsA, they will have had psoriasis for many years before developing PsA. However, there are cases where people develop PsA first. Research reported in the medical journalAnnals of the Rheumatic Diseasesfinds as many as 29% of people with psoriasis may have undiagnosed PsA.
Rash Appearance
worklater1/ Getty Images
PsA rashes look the same as psoriasis plaques.
On light-colored skin, they appear as patches of red skin with silvery-white scales. In Hispanic people, they tend to be salmon-colored with silvery-white scales. In Black people, they may be purplish with gray scale or simply look like darker patches of skin.
Psoriasis rashes may itch, burn, bleed, and hurt. It is important not to scratch these areas because there is a risk of infection and plaques may worsen.
PsA rashes come and go and it is possible to have long periods where the skin is clear. Much like with psoriasis plaques, PsA rashes are triggered.
What Psoriasis Looks Like
Early Warning Signs
PsA often starts with psoriasis, especially in people between 20 and 30 years old. PsA symptoms most frequently develop between 30 and 40. Early complaints tend to be:
Early on, it’s common to have episodes of pronounced symptoms (flares) alternating with periods of milder symptoms (remissions).
Treating PsA skin symptoms is based on the type of psoriasis and the severity of rash symptoms. Treatment for PsA rash may include:
The goal of treating PsA skin symptoms is to reduce plaque formation and keep skin cells from growing too fast. Preventing and reducing skin flares involves managing triggers, especially those related to diet and stress.
A Word From Verywell
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic disease which has no cure. Symptoms will vary from person to person. How fast PsA skin rashes clear up will depend on how severe skin symptoms are and the effectiveness of treatment. It may take a while to find something that works to keep PsA skin symptoms under control.
DIP Psoriatic Arthritis (DIP PsA) Symptoms and Treatment
Frequently Asked QuestionsYes, psoriatic arthritis can affect your face in a couple of ways. You may have psoriasis patches on your face at times. Plus, PsA can strike any joint in the body, including the jaw.That depends on your skin tone. Black people may have purplish or dark spots with gray scales. Hispanic people generally have salmon-colored spots and silvery-white scales. White people have red or pink spots with silvery-white scales.The first symptom is often psoriasis, which may come on years earlier than other symptoms. Other early signs may be fatigue and joint swelling, pain, and stiffness in the hands and feet.
Yes, psoriatic arthritis can affect your face in a couple of ways. You may have psoriasis patches on your face at times. Plus, PsA can strike any joint in the body, including the jaw.
That depends on your skin tone. Black people may have purplish or dark spots with gray scales. Hispanic people generally have salmon-colored spots and silvery-white scales. White people have red or pink spots with silvery-white scales.
The first symptom is often psoriasis, which may come on years earlier than other symptoms. Other early signs may be fatigue and joint swelling, pain, and stiffness in the hands and feet.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mease PJ, Armstrong AW.Managing patients with psoriatic disease: the diagnosis and pharmacologic treatment of psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis.Drugs. 2014;74(4):423-41. doi:10.1007/s40265-014-0191-y
National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriatic arthritis.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis resource center.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Can you get psoriasis if you have skin of color?
Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Psoriatic arthritis signs and symptoms.
National Psoriasis Foundation.When PsA invades the jaw.
Liu JT, Yeh HM, Liu SY, et al.Psoriatic arthritis: epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment.World J Orthop. 2014;5(4):537–543. doi:10.5312/wjo.v5.i4.537National Psoriasis Foundation.Could you have psoriatic arthritis?Psoriasis Speaks.What is psoriasis?
Liu JT, Yeh HM, Liu SY, et al.Psoriatic arthritis: epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment.World J Orthop. 2014;5(4):537–543. doi:10.5312/wjo.v5.i4.537
National Psoriasis Foundation.Could you have psoriatic arthritis?
Psoriasis Speaks.What is psoriasis?
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
