Features

• Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic disease in which both the skin and joints become inflamed. Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease in which the immune system attacks organs and tissues.
  
  

Causes

• The causes of both lupus and psoriatic arthritis are still unknown. Neither one is strictly hereditary, but both have a genetic contribution.
  
  

Treatments

• There is not yet a cure for either disease. However, those with lupus should follow the instructions of their doctor, take medication as prescribed and be alert to new symptoms. Treatment for psoriatic arthritis can lessen pain, decrease swelling and possibly prevent further joint damage.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Neither lupus nor psoriatic arthritis are contagious diseases. You cannot "catch" them.
  
  

Statistics

• Anyone can be affected by these disorders. However, lupus mostly affects women between the ages of 15 and 44, while psoriatic arthritis commonly appears in men between the ages of 30 and 50.