Psoriatic Arthritis: Symptoms and Risk Factors – Healthline

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that can affect as many as 30 percent of people with psoriasis. Psoriasis is a condition that affects the skin, causing dry, scaly patches.

Psoriatic arthritis typically develops later but can have a much deeper impact on your body. Keep reading to learn about the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis and the risk factors for developing it.

Like other forms of arthritis, psoriatic arthritis affects your joints, causing stiffness and pain. Each type of arthritis has different features, and psoriatic arthritis symptoms include:

Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis can strike large or small joints, but are most common in:

Symptoms can come and go. They usually come in the form of flare-ups that can last for weeks and then disappear for long periods of time. Psoriatic arthritis might affect one or many joints at a time during a flare-up.

The main risk factor for psoriatic arthritis is having psoriasis, but some people may develop this type of arthritis before ever developing any skin lesions. Overall risk factors include:

For people with psoriasis who end up developing psoriatic arthritis, it typically begins roughly 10 years after psoriasis appears. There doesnt appear to be any link between how severe your psoriasis is and how severe your psoriatic arthritis may be.

Psoriatic arthritis is usually diagnosed by a rheumatologist. Its important to seek diagnosis early if you suspect you have this condition. Early diagnosis and management can keep you from developing more severe complications like:

While theres no cure for psoriatic arthritis, symptoms can be managed with medications and therapy.

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Psoriatic Arthritis: Symptoms and Risk Factors - Healthline