Although rare, Raynaud’s syndrome and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) might coexist. Research has not established a causal relationship or explained this link. Raynaud’s often co-occurs with autoimmune conditions like lupus and scleroderma.

Raynaud’s syndrome, also known as Raynaud phenomenon or Raynaud’s disease, is a chronic condition that causes some body parts to become numb and bluish or pale when exposed to cold temperatures. Raynaud’s syndrome mainly affects fingers, but symptoms may also appear in the toes, nose, and ears.

Psoriatic arthritis involves joint soreness and stiffness and a scaly rash, but it doesn’t cause fingers and toes to become numb or intolerant to cold. However, some people with PsA may experience all these symptoms.

Types of Raynaud’s syndrome

Raynaud phenomenon is often diagnosed as primary or secondary.

Primary refers to having Raynaud phenomenon without any previous rheumatic symptoms. The term “rheumatic” refers to inflammation in the joints and nearby tissues, which causes pain and stiffness.

Secondary refers to someone developing Raynaud phenomenon after they already have a rheumatic condition.

Read all about Raynaud’s syndrome here.

Raynaud’s disease often co-occurs with autoimmune conditions, particularly lupus and scleroderma. While psoriatic arthritis is an autoinflammatory disease, research supporting a further link between the condition and Raynaud phenomenon is limited. There’s little evidence to show that the two have a causal relationship, although they might coexist.

Both PsA and Raynaud’s syndrome mainly affect fingers and toes, but PsA involves joint pain and stiffness and a psoriatic rash. Raynaud phenomenon doesn’t affect joints or the skin. Instead, it manifests as pain and numbness in the tips of the fingers and toes, which turn blue, purple, or pale when exposed to cold temperatures.

Toes and fingers may feel cold to the touch with Raynaud phenomenon, while they may feel warmer with PsA due to the inflammation.

Read more about the signs of psoriatic arthritis.

If you have psoriatic arthritis and begin noticing your fingers turn numb, pale, or bluish after exposure to cold temperatures, a rheumatologist may diagnose secondary Raynaud phenomenon after performing some tests to rule out other causes.

A physician needs to assess new Raynaud phenomenon symptoms in older adults.

The diagnostic process may involve a combination of the following:

Scientists have not yet determined why some people with autoimmune and autoinflammatory conditions, including PsA, may later develop Raynaud phenomenon and vice versa. Common risk factors and similar body processes, such as autoimmunity and vasospasms, may be involved, but more research is needed to confirm this link.

Cold temperatures may affect people with arthritis because cold constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the extremities. This, in turn, may aggravate pain and stiffness in different joints. Cold may also affect synovial fluid (joint lubricant), making it thicker, which could also increase joint stiffness in people with some forms of arthritis.

More research is needed to understand the relationship between cold temperatures and arthritis.

People with Raynaud’s disease also experience vasoconstriction in response to cold temperatures. Still, the severity of this reaction is stronger than in people without the condition, and it doesn’t involve joint inflammation.

Read about treatments for psoriatic arthritis.

Raynaud’s syndrome and psoriatic arthritis might coexist, but scientists have not established a causal link between both conditions.

If you have psoriatic arthritis and start noticing numb and bluish fingers when exposed to cold temperatures, you may receive a diagnosis of secondary Raynaud’s disease. This means you had rheumatic symptoms before developing the condition.

A comprehensive, physician-administered exam is advised if you notice Raynaud phenomenon symptoms for the first time as an older adult.