Summit Company Sponsoring First Ever Psoriatic Arthritis Awareness Day

Summit, NJ-- The National Psoriasis Foundation has teamed up with Summit biopharmaceutical company Celgene Corp. to hold the first ever Psoriatic Arthritis Awareness Day on Sept. 28.

You can use the hashtag #PsADay16 and a social badge to spread awareness of the disease on social media.

The day will be used to educate and spread the word about psoriatic arthritis (abbreviated as PsA). More than one million Americans currently live with it, but because of challenges in making a diagnosis, it could be higher. If not identified and treated quickly, it can lead to permanent disability.

“In 85 percent of PsA patients, psoriasis occurs before joint disease, so it is critical for psoriasis patients to understand factors associated with PsA,” Randy Beranek, president and CEO, National Psoriasis Foundation., said in a press release.

PsA is a painful autoimmune disease that affects the joints, feet, and fingernails. Although there is no cure yet, with the right treatment, it is possible to go into remission for long periods of time.

Unlike rheumatoid arthritis there is no blood test, and unlike osteoarthritis, PsA does not show up on X-rays. Diagnosis can depend on patient and doctor awareness of the symptoms.

While most people who have psoriasis only have a mild version of the skin condition, about 30% will develop the related arthritis. It is possible to have the arthritic version without the trademark skin spots, but it's uncommon.

For more information, you can visit the Psoriatic Arthritis Awareness Day website.

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