Psoriatic Arthritis Awareness Day Date in the current year: September 28, 2024

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition marked by patches of abnormal skin that are typically red (sometimes pink or purple), dry, itchy, and scaly. In addition to being quite unpleasant on its own, psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of various other health issues, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, certain cancers, and psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis affects up to 30% of people with psoriasis, typically about a decade after the first signs of skin psoriasis. About 70% of those with psoriatic arthritis develop it after skin symptoms appear, while 15% experience both conditions at the same time, and another 15% develop arthritis first, followed by skin psoriasis.

Psoriatic arthritis can develop in patients with any level severity of skin psoriasis although severe psoriasis is a risk factor for the development of psoriatic arthritis. Other risk factors include obesity and having a first-degree relative with psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis is a long-term inflammatory condition primarily affecting fingers and toes. Symptoms include joint pain and stiffness, swelling of whole fingers and toes (sometimes referred to as “sausage digits”), and changes in the nails such as thickening, pitting, and detachment from the nailbed (psoriatic onychodystrophy).

Flare-ups of psoriatic arthritis often bring extreme fatigue, lasting for days or weeks, even with enough rest. These flare-ups usually alternate with periods of remission. While there’s no cure for psoriatic arthritis, there are treatments to control inflammation and joint damage. If left untreated, the condition can significantly impair quality of life.

Psoriatic Arthritis Awareness Day was launched in 2016 by the pharmaceutical company Celgene Corporation and the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), a US-based nonprofit organization that helps people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The main goal of the PsA Awareness Day campaign is to educate the general public about this disease and highlight the importance of recognition, diagnosis, and treatment.

There are many ways to get involved with PsA Awareness Day. You can participate by educating yourself about PsA and sharing what you’ve learned with others. You can also raise awareness by sharing your personal experiences with psoriatic arthritis (of course, only if you’re comfortable doing so), making a donation to organizations that support psoriasis patients or fund research, and spreading the message on social media using the hashtags #PsoriaticArthritisAwarenessDay, #PsAAwarenessDay and #PsADay.

Psoriatic Arthritis Awareness Day should not be confused with National Psoriatic Arthritis Day in Canada, observed annually on October 19.