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Psoriatic Arthritis: Impact on Hands


Psoriatic Arthritis on Your Hands
Psoriatic arthritis can cause symptoms in many parts of your body. That includes your hands, fingers, and nails. When these areas are affected, the disease can make everyday tasks, such as cooking or opening a water bottle, a challenge. But the right treatment can improve your symptoms and make them easier to live with.

What are the Symptoms?
Psoriatic arthritis can cause joint swelling, stiffness, and pain in your hands and fingers. It can also make your fingers swell up, making them look like little sausages. In more severe cases, they may be hard to move and become shorter. You may notice symptoms affecting one hand more than the other.

How Will Your Nails Look?
Nail psoriasis is common in people with psoriatic arthritis. You may notice your nails crumble, detach, or develop ridges, pits, blood spots, or a yellow or brown color. Your nails may also offer clues about psoriatic arthritis in the rest of your body. For example, blood spots under your nails can mean you have a lot of swollen joints.

Lifestyle Remedies
To bring down swelling, you can wrap ice cubes in a soft towel and place it on your hand for 10 minutes. When typing or writing, take a break every 30 minutes to lower joint stress. A physical or occupational therapist can show you hand-strengthening exercises and new ways to do things that don't hurt your hands.

Medical Treatment
If you have psoriatic arthritis in your hands, your treatment may include medications, topical creams, laser therapy, or corticosteroids. But treatment depends on your symptoms, lifestyle, and other factors. Talk to your doctor about the right option for you.
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SOURCES:
National Psoriasis Foundation: "Make cooking easier when you have psoriatic arthritis," "Classification of Psoriatic Arthritis," "5 things you didn't know about PsA."
American Academy of Dermatology: "What is nail psoriasis, and how can I treat it?" "7 nail-care tips that can reduce nail psoriasis."
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons: “Arthritis of the Hand.”
UpToDate: "Psoriatic arthritis (Beyond the Basics)."
The Arthritis Foundation: "Ten Hand- and Foot-Care Tips for Psoriatic Arthritis."
Melissa Peavy, senior hand therapist, RPSC Hand Therapy Center, Rockwall, TX.
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases: "Dactylitis in psoriatic arthritis: A marker for disease severity?"
MDedge: "Dactylitis signals more severe psoriatic arthritis."
The Journal of Rheumatology: "Comprehensive Treatment of Dactylitis in Psoriatic Arthritis."
Lorinda Chung, MD, associate professor of medicine and dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine.
American Society for Surgery of the Hand: "Psoriatic Arthritis."