Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a long-term inflammatory disease which affects joints, tendons and ligaments (and sometimes the spine) of people with psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis is thought to affect around 30% of people who have psoriasis.
Most often psoriasis is already present before any psoriatic arthritis joint pain develops, but in 15% of cases psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can start at the same time. It is also possible for psoriatic arthritis to develop without any signs of psoriasis on your skin.
The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include ridging and pitting of your nails, joint pain, stiffness and your fingers swelling up (making your fingers look sausage shaped). The joints of your hands and feet are the most commonly affected areas but some people have inflammation, swelling and pain in other joints including the knees, elbows, hips and spine.
The severity of psoriatic arthritis can vary. Symptoms can be mild and may only involve a single joint but this can develop into a more severe form involving lots of joints if left untreated.
As joint pain may not be the most significant issue for people who have psoriasis, it is important to be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. If you have any of these symptoms or think you might have psoriatic arthritis, see your healthcare team as soon as possible so that you can get appropriate treatment and support.