Itching around inflamed joints is something many people with RA experience, even though it's not considered a classic RA symptom. The inflammation itself is likely the culprit — when joints swell, it can trigger itchiness in the surrounding skin. There are a few reasons this can happen:
- Joint inflammation — swelling Show Full Answer
Itching around inflamed joints is something many people with RA experience, even though it's not considered a classic RA symptom. The inflammation itself is likely the culprit — when joints swell, it can trigger itchiness in the surrounding skin. There are a few reasons this can happen:
- Joint inflammation — swelling around a joint can directly cause itching in the nearby skin
- RA medications — DMARDs like methotrexate, biologics, and JAK inhibitors like Rinvoq can all cause itching as a side effect
- Chronic hives (urticaria) — RA-related inflammation has been linked to hives, which are very itchy
- Rheumatoid vasculitis — a complication of long-term RA where blood vessel inflammation can cause itchy skin
One myRAteam member shared, "I get itchiness around the joints when swelling is occurring," which is a very common experience. Try to resist scratching as much as possible — it can actually worsen inflammation and create an itch-scratch cycle that leads to skin damage over time. It's worth mentioning this to your doctor, especially if it's persistent or getting worse.
June 14
Continue with Facebook
Continue with Email
Join
Your Privacy Choices
