Psoriatic Arthritis and Sleep: Tools That Can Help
Psoriatic ArthritisMastering Your PsA Care

6 Essential Tools for Getting Better Sleep if You Have Psoriatic Arthritis

While joint pain and stiffness can impact your sleep, setting yourself up for quality rest each night can actually help improve your psoriatic arthritis symptoms.

6 Essential Tools for Getting Better Sleep if You Have Psoriatic Arthritis
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Published on July 2, 2025
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Joint pain. Itchy skin. Swelling in your hands and feet. The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis not only cause fatigue during the day, but can also make it hard for you to sleep at night.

Some research has found that up to 85 percent of people with psoriatic arthritis experience sleep issues.

 That’s partly because the disease causes pain that can wake you up, says Melanie Smith, MD, PhD, a rheumatologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
And the longer you go without getting good sleep, the worse your quality of life may become, since a lack of good sleep may lead to more pain.

 “There’s a cycle people get into where they have pain, so they don’t sleep. And then they feel more pain, and they don’t sleep well,” says Dr. Smith.

That’s why it’s important to do what you can, right now, to sleep better at night. These tools and aids can help you do just that.

1. A Supportive Mattress

The best mattress for you is the one that feels the most comfortable, but you may find that a firm mattress offers optimum support for your joints. When buying a new mattress, think like Goldilocks: It shouldn’t be so firm that it worsens your joint pain. It should feel just right.

2. A ‘Knee’ Pillow

If you also have inflammation in your spine and sacroiliac joints (which is common in people with psoriatic arthritis), you may want to sleep with a pillow in between your knees. Doing so can help keep your spine aligned, so you stay comfortable all night.

3. Cooling Sheets ... or Electric Blankets

If you tend to run hot at night, try sleeping on cooling sheets. On the flip side, if you’re always freezing at night, try warming up your bed with an electric blanket before you climb in.

Either option can work for psoriatic arthritis, says Smith, so it’s all about “trying to make a very comfortable environment, so you can maximize your sleep.”

4. Soft Pajamas

Opt for pajamas in cool, breathable fabrics, such as cotton or silk. They’ll feel better on your skin, so they’ll be less likely to trigger psoriasis-related skin itching. Using moisturizer before bed can also help reduce nighttime itch.

5. An Alarm Clock

… to tell you when it’s time to go to bed. “I tell people to stick to a regular sleep schedule,” says Smith. Going to bed at the same time every night can tell your body to release melatonin — a hormone that helps you nod off — at a certain time.

Smith also recommends setting up a schedule that limits caffeine to the morning and alcohol to at least a few hours before bed. Exercising regularly during the day can also help you sleep easier at night. “Try not to spend hours in bed, doing work, reading books, or staying on your phone,” she says. “In general, staying in bed for a long time isn’t conducive to good sleep hygiene."

6. A CPAP Machine for Sleep Apnea

Having psoriatic arthritis can also increase your risk of sleep apnea, a disorder in which you temporarily stop breathing while you sleep, which can affect sleep quality.

 Sleep apnea is linked to obesity, which can also go hand in hand with psoriatic arthritis, says Smith.

“People who have sleep apnea tend to have unrefreshing sleep, even if they feel like they’re getting enough rest,” she says. It’s not always easy to know whether you have this sleep disorder. Some symptoms include feeling excessively tired during the day, snoring loudly, and waking up with a dry mouth or headache.

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about getting tested for it. One of the main treatments is using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which delivers air through a mask while you’re in bed to promote better sleep.

The Takeaway

  • Psoriatic arthritis symptoms can make it harder to get quality sleep at night, which can have an impact on how you feel each day.
  • Certain tools, such as a supportive mattress, cooling sheets, and a knee pillow, can help ease psoriatic arthritis symptoms and promote better sleep.
  • If you still have sleep problems, work with your doctor to identify and address any other issues, such as anxiety, an overactive bladder, or sleep apnea, that may be getting in the way of your sleep.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Grant C et al. Sleep Problems in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. The Journal of Rheumatology. May 2023.
  2. Krajewska-Włodarczyk M et al. Sleep Disorders in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis and Psoriasis. Reumatologia. May 2018.
  3. Werbach M. How to Catch Zs. National Psoriasis Foundation. August 15, 2022.
  4. Noyed D. Best Knee Pillows of 2025. SleepFoundation.org. December 26, 2024.
  5. Simmons K. Psoriatic Arthritis and Sleep. Arthritis Foundation. March 15, 2022.
  6. Sleep Apnea. Mayo Clinic. April 6, 2023.
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Beth Biggee, MD

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Beth Biggee, MD, is medical director and an integrative rheumatologist at Rheumission, a virtual integrative rheumatology practice for people residing in California and Pennsylvania. This first-of-its-kind company offers whole person autoimmune care by a team of integrative rheumatologists, lifestyle medicine practitioners, autoimmune dietitians, psychologists, and care coordinators.

Dr. Biggee also works as a healthcare wellness consultant for Synergy Wellness Center in Hudson, Massachusetts. Teamed with Synergy, she provides in-person lifestyle medicine and holistic consults, and contributes to employee workplace wellness programs. She has over 20 years of experience in rheumatology and holds board certifications in rheumatology and integrative and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Biggee brings a human-centered approach to wellness rather than focusing solely on diseases.

Dr. Biggee graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree from Canisius College, and graduated magna cum laude and as valedictorian from SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse Medical School. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital, completed her fellowship in rheumatology at Tufts–New England Medical Center, and completed training in integrative rheumatology at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Following her training, she attained board certification in rheumatology and internal medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine, attained board certification in integrative medicine through the American Board of Physician Specialties, and attained accreditation as a certified lifestyle medicine physician through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She is certified in Helms auricular acupuncture and is currently completing coursework for the Aloha Ayurveda integrative medicine course for physicians.

In prior roles, Dr. Biggee taught as an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital (an affiliate of Columbia University). She was also clinical associate of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and instructed "introduction to clinical medicine" for medical students at Tufts. She was preceptor for the Lawrence General Hospital Family Medicine Residency.

Dr. Biggee has published in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, Arthritis in Rheumatism, Current Opinions in Rheumatology, Journal for Musculoskeletal Medicine, Medicine and Health Rhode Island, and Field Guide to Internal Medicine.

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Maria Masters

Maria Masters

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Maria Masters is a contributing editor and writer for Everyday Health and What to Expect, and she has held positions at Men's Health and Family Circle. Her work has appeared in Health, on Prevention.com, on MensJournal.com, and in HGTV Magazine, among numerous other print and digital publications.

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