more run down as an example, or you may feel overly anxious and be experiencing sleep problems.”
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Prolonged stiffness
“Whenever the weather is changing, this is a good time to keep an eye out for subtle changes in your disease,” Dr. Ajam notes. “This includes stiffness not just when you are first waking up, but that now lasts longer into the morning.”
Some PsA patients may also have a difficult time getting up after sitting for long periods of time.
More frequent flares
How is your skin? According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, even mild psoriasis (appearing on less than 3% of the body) may point to significant inflammation in the body.
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Dr. Haberman suggests checking your skin and asking yourself questions such as “is more area of my body covered with psoriasis?” Or “has my skin become redder or is the scale thicker?”
Worse nail condition
Yes, psoriatic arthritis can affect the nails as well, and where it shows up depends on the location of the inflammatory process.
If you are experiencing nail pitting, the nail matrix (where the nails grow) may be involved. On the other hand, an inflamed nail bed may cause your nails to separate from the skin. If you have horizontal ridges in your nail, this usually indicates weakness in the nail bed.
Checking your nails also involves checking your fingers and toes. Toenail psoriasis is often misdiagnosed as a fungal infection.
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Eye inflammation
PsA can also affect your eyes. If you are living with psoriatic disease, you may experience eye changes such as eye redness, pain in one eye or both, blurred vision and sensitivity to light as a result of systemic inflammation.
Additionally, treatment may affect your vision. Methotrexate and acitretin may cause eye damage and certain biological therapies may also cause eye changes according to a 2021 study published in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine.
When to see a doctor
Because you know your body better than anyone else, it is best to pay attention to any changes in symptoms and notify your doctor. If you notice things getting worse, your doctor can adjust your treatment or pursue additional methods of treatment.
Dr. Haberman says doctors, “Will likely ask you more about your symptoms and may order additional tests, such as bloodwork and x-rays to help determine your disease activity and whether you need any changes to your treatment regimen.”
Treatment will help reduce the inflammation that often leads to other health issues. It is important that you get treated because when left untreated, PsA can lead to permanent joint damage.
