How Psoriatic Arthritis Affects Your Body

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects people with psoriasis, a chronic skin condition. PsA can cause inflammation in the joints, tendons, and other parts of the body.

Joints

The most common symptom of PsA is joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. These symptoms can affect any joint in the body, but they most commonly occur in the fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, knees, and spine. Joint pain can be mild or severe, and it can come and go or be constant.

Tendons

PsA can also cause inflammation in the tendons, which are the tough bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Tendon inflammation, called tendinitis, can cause pain, swelling, and tenderness at the affected site. Tendinitis most commonly occurs in the Achilles tendon (the tendon that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone) and the plantar fascia (the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot).

Other parts of the body

PsA can also affect other parts of the body, including the skin, eyes, nails, and heart.

* Skin: PsA can cause psoriasis plaques to develop on the skin. These plaques are red, scaly patches of skin that can be itchy or painful.

* Eyes: PsA can cause inflammation in the eyes, called uveitis. Uveitis can cause pain, redness, blurred vision, and floaters (small dark spots in the vision).

* Nails: PsA can cause nail changes, such as pitting, discoloration, and thickening.

* Heart: PsA can increase the risk of heart disease, including heart attack and stroke.

Psoriatic arthritis can affect people of all ages, but it is most commonly diagnosed in adults between the ages of 30 and 50. The exact cause of PsA is unknown, but it is thought to be an autoimmune disease, in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues.

There is no cure for PsA, but there are a variety of treatments that can help to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. Treatments include medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes.