Psoriasis: What if I get psoriatic arthritis, too?

Psoriasis is more than skin deep. When you're not looking, inflammation related to the disease may be slowly damaging your joints. About 3 out of 10 people with psoriasis will get psoriatic arthritis.

Questions about psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis might leave you scratching your head — and your elbows and knees and perhaps other places, too. How do you know if achy joints mean you have psoriatic arthritis or if they're simply a sign of everyday aging and wear and tear? Talk with your health care provider about your questions.

Knowing the answers to some common questions can help you better manage your condition and prevent complications.

How will I know I have psoriatic arthritis?

If you've got psoriasis and the joints in your fingers, hands, feet or other parts of your body start to hurt, don't shrug it off to growing older. Joint pain and damage are serious complications of psoriasis.

Talk with your dermatologist about screening you for psoriatic arthritis at regular checkups. In most adults with psoriasis, skin symptoms occur years before psoriatic joint pain sets in.

Psoriasis experts recommend watching for the following symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. Tell your health care provider right away if you develop more than one:

• Pain or swelling in one joint or more
• Swelling that makes a finger or toe appear sausage-like
• Inflamed joints that are hot to the touch
• Frequent joint tenderness or stiffness
• Pain in and around the feet and ankles
• Nail changes, including small indentions in the nails (pitting) or lifting from the nail bed
• Pain in the lower back, above your tailbone

Usually, psoriatic arthritis affects the small joints of the hands, feet, knees, wrists and elbows, but it may also affect the spine. You're more likely to get psoriatic arthritis if someone in your family has it.

Will I need a new health care provider?

If you have psoriasis, you would benefit from seeing a doctor who specializes in conditions of the skin and nails (dermatologist). Your dermatologist plays an important role in screening and informing you about psoriatic arthritis.

If you develop psoriatic arthritis, you'll be referred to a doctor who specializes in autoimmune and musculoskeletal diseases (rheumatologist). Ideally, you and your doctors will talk with one another to come up with a personalized treatment plan that best fits your health needs.

How will my treatment change?

Your medicines may not change. Medicines used to treat moderate to severe psoriasis are also prescribed for psoriatic arthritis. For example, biologics and DMARDs. Your health care provider may need to tweak your dosage. Or you may be given other medicines to add to your treatment plan.

Be sure to stick with your prescribed treatment plan. Without proper treatment, psoriatic arthritis can make your symptoms worse and cause permanent joint damage, which can disrupt your quality of life.

Will I need checkups more often?

You'll need regular health screenings to prevent complications. People who have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have a higher risk of other serious health conditions. These include heart disease, obesity and depression. It's also a good idea to see a primary care doctor for recommended wellness exams.