Dermatology Advisor discusses diagnosis delays and ways to improve the detection of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) for patients living with psoriasis according to experts including Lisa A. Mandl, MD, MPH, rheumatologist at HSS.

Dr. Mandl explained, “People often focus on their visible issues and attribute their ‘aches and pains’ to other reasons, such as getting older or an old sports injury acting up, rather than PsA.”

She underscored the need for physicians to think of PsA “if joints are red or swollen – particularly the distal interphalangeal joints of the hand, if the toes or fingers are swelling up like sausages, or if patients complain of pain that is worse in the morning and gets better during the day.”

According to Dr. Mandl, public education to help improve recognition of psoriasis and education to primary care providers to increase referral to a rheumatologist when PsA is suspected is needed, to address the gaps between diagnosis of each condition.

Read the full article at Dermatologyadvisor.com. Additional coverage: Rheumatologyadvisor.com