Learn About Psoriatic Arthritis – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatments

What exactly is psoriatic arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a kind of inflammatory arthritis that most commonly affects persons with psoriasis, a skin illness. Psoriasis affects between 10% and 30% of adults.

PsA affects both men and women equally and typically arises between the ages of 20 and 50. There is no cure for PsA, but if detected early and treated correctly, you can gain control of your disease and avoid severe joint damage.

With the correct medicine, surgery (in some instances), exercise, rest, and joint protection techniques, most persons with PsA can live active and productive lives. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease when the immune system gets confused and starts “attacking” the skin.

This causes red (inflamed) patches of skin to form, which are then covered with a silvery-white scale. Psoriasis can affect a few small patches to considerably larger expanses of skin.

Psoriasis can also appear on the fingers and toes. Psoriasis is usually minor in most people, and some might not even realize they have it. PsA is both inflammatory arthritis and an autoimmune illness.

The joints are the target of the immunological onslaught in PsA. This results in joint swelling, discomfort, and warmth (inflammation); you may also experience back and neck pain.

PsA usually appears following the onset of psoriasis. However, having psoriasis does not guarantee that you will get PsA. The vast majority of persons with psoriasis will never acquire PsA.

On the other hand, those who have nail psoriasis are at a higher risk of getting PsA. PsA usually starts slowly and gradually spreads to other joints over a few weeks to a few months.