Psoriatic Arthritis

About Psoriatic Arthritis & Symptoms

In psoriatic arthritis, joint and connective tissue inflammation that produces symptoms of arthritis in patients who have or will develop Psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis is a specific condition in which a person has both psoriasis and arthritis. Psoriasis is a common condition. A person with psoriasis generally has gray, or silvery flaky patches on the skin which are red and inflamed underneath. The affected skin looks different depending on the type of psoriasis the individual has. Arthritis is joint inflammation.

Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning that cells and antibodies (part of your immune system) fight own tissues. Rarely, a person can have psoriatic arthritis without having obvious psoriasis. Usually, the more severe the skin symptoms are the greater the likelihood a person will have psoriatic arthritis.

Males and females are equally likely to have psoriasis. For psoriatic arthritis, males are more likely to have the spondylitic form (the spine is affected), and females are more likely to have the rheumatoid form (many joints may be involved).

Psoriatic arthritis usually develops in people aged 36-56 years. However, it can develop in people of almost any age.