Psoriatic arthritis is a form of joint inflammation that can occur as a secondary disease in people with psoriasis of the skin. Symptoms include swelling and stiffness of the joints most commonly in joints closest to the tips of the fingers and toes that can develop following the skin rash; however, symptoms of psoriatic arthritis may not appear for many years after the skin rash onset or not at all. As the disease progresses and inflammation becomes chronic, joint deformity may result. Patients already diagnosed with psoriasis of the skin are thought to be genetically predisposed to developing psoriatic arthritis; the specific cause of both the skin rash and arthritis are unknown, but genetic, environmental and immunologic factors can contribute. Treatment is largely based on medications to help relieve joint pain and swelling, and also includes therapies to control the skin rash and exercise to reduce joint stiffness.

There is no one single cause of psoriatic arthritis. Risk factors range from genetics and certain medical conditions to smoking and food choices.
Diagnosing psoriatic arthritic can be challenging and time-consuming. A doctor must rule out any other medical conditions that can cause similar symptoms.

Skin psoriasis and joint pain and swelling are the most common and notable symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. A wide variety of other symptoms may also appear.

There are several therapies, including medications and at-home treatments, to keep psoriatic arthritis symptoms under control.

Psoriatic arthritis is a medical condition in which skin psoriasis is accompanied by joint pain or swelling. Usually, the skin condition appears first. There are several subtypes of psoriatic arthritis, including as asymmetric, Symmetric, Distal, arthritis mutilans, and axial arthritis (spondyloarthritis).

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