Psoriatic Arthritis vs. Osteoarthritis – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

You have psoriasis, and now youre experiencing joint pain. Does this mean you have psoriatic arthritis? Or could it be unrelated?

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Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, and, sometimes, it can occur alongside psoriasis. Then again, psoriatic arthritis is also a possibility if you are experiencing skin symptoms, says rheumatologist Rochelle Rosian, MD.

How can you make sense of it all? We talked to Dr. Rosian to find out what these types of arthritis have in common, how they differ and how to treat them.

The word arthritis is kind of a catch-all term, Dr. Rosian explains. Its used to describe more than 100 different conditions that cause pain, swelling and joint damage. Osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis are two of those many conditions.

Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis. It occurs when the cartilage that cushions your bones wears down, leaving bone to rub against bone.

Since its caused by wear and tear on the joints over time, it usually develops in older adults. Unlike psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis doesnt involve inflammation or an overactive immune system.

Common features of osteoarthritis include:

The location of the pain depends on the type of osteoarthritis:

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis. It occurs when your bodys immune system works overtime, creating inflammation throughout your body. In psoriatic arthritis, that inflammation targets the joints and the places where tendons and ligaments attach to bones.

Most people with psoriatic arthritis also have psoriasis, a disease that causes red, scaly patches of skin. Psoriatic arthritis can strike at any age, though symptoms usually develop between ages 30 and 50.

Psoriatic arthritis causes symptoms in your joints and beyond, including:

Joint symptoms:

Skin symptoms:

Other symptoms:

In osteoarthritis, X-rays may show signs like worn cartilage. In psoriatic arthritis, X-rays can show joint damage in later stages of the disease.

But they arent especially helpful in making a diagnosis in the early stages. X-rays can help make an arthritis diagnosis. But they arent always a slam dunk, Dr. Rosian says.

X-rays can also reveal bone spurs, which can develop in people with osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Those images may reveal differences between the two diseases:

To diagnose joint disease, your healthcare provider will probably consider several factors in addition to X-rays, including:

Getting an accurate diagnosis is important since psoriatic arthritis and osteoarthritis require different treatments.

Medications are often an essential part of treating arthritis. But the medications can differ depending on the type.

Treatments for osteoarthritis include:

Treatments for psoriatic arthritis include:

In addition to medication, you can take other steps to manage arthritis symptoms. These approaches can help whether you have psoriatic arthritis or osteoarthritis:

By making certain lifestyle changes and working with your doctor to develop a treatment plan, you can keep arthritis symptoms in check, says Dr. Rosian.

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Psoriatic Arthritis vs. Osteoarthritis - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic