(12/11/2012) Some one in three people with the skin condition, psoriasis, will develop a painful condition of the joints, which if left untreated, may cause permanent damage.
Psoriatic arthritis is a painful swellling of the joints that develops over time. Symptoms can include stiffness that lasts more than two hours, red bloodshot eyes, discolouration of nails and a sausage-like appearance of fingers and/or toes due to swelling.
“Psoriatic arthritis can be a very painful and uncomfortable disease, so it is important that the symptoms are recognised as early as possible in order to prevent serious damage to the joints,” explained Prof Oliver Fitzgerald, a consultant rheumatologist at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin.
He made his comments following the publication of a new information booklet, Do you have psoriasis? Check for psoriatic arthritis.
The booklet notes that most people will develop psoriasis first and it may be 10 years or more before joint problems show up. However in some cases, the joint problems may occur first or at the same time as the skin problems.
The condition most commonly occurs in men and women aged between 30 and 50.
According to Caroline Irwin, chairperson of the Psoriasis Association of Ireland, over 100,000 people in Ireland have psoriasis, which means an estimated 33,000 also have psoriatic arthritis.
“Many people feel embarrassed and anxious about the reaction of others, so it is very important to improve awareness and educate people about psoriatic arthritis,” she explained.
The book was developed by Pfizer and EUROPSO (the European umbrella organisation for psoriasis patients’ associations based in Europe), in association with the Psoriasis Association of Ireland and Arthritis Ireland. It is now available from the Psoriasis Association of Ireland and Arthritis Ireland.
For more information on psoriasis, see our Psoriasis Clinic here
…
Psoriatic arthritis is a painful swellling of the joints that develops over time. Symptoms can include stiffness that lasts more than two hours, red bloodshot eyes, discolouration of nails and a sausage-like appearance of fingers and/or toes due to swelling.
“Psoriatic arthritis can be a very painful and uncomfortable disease, so it is important that the symptoms are recognised as early as possible in order to prevent serious damage to the joints,” explained Prof Oliver Fitzgerald, a consultant rheumatologist at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin.
He made his comments following the publication of a new information booklet, Do you have psoriasis? Check for psoriatic arthritis.
The booklet notes that most people will develop psoriasis first and it may be 10 years or more before joint problems show up. However in some cases, the joint problems may occur first or at the same time as the skin problems.
The condition most commonly occurs in men and women aged between 30 and 50.
According to Caroline Irwin, chairperson of the Psoriasis Association of Ireland, over 100,000 people in Ireland have psoriasis, which means an estimated 33,000 also have psoriatic arthritis.
“Many people feel embarrassed and anxious about the reaction of others, so it is very important to improve awareness and educate people about psoriatic arthritis,” she explained.
The book was developed by Pfizer and EUROPSO (the European umbrella organisation for psoriasis patients’ associations based in Europe), in association with the Psoriasis Association of Ireland and Arthritis Ireland. It is now available from the Psoriasis Association of Ireland and Arthritis Ireland.
For more information on psoriasis, see our Psoriasis Clinic here
…