Psoriatic Arthritis

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 patches of raised red skin with scales or plaque. Arthritis is joint inflammation.

Severe psoriatic arthritis involving the finger joints.

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

Psoriatic arthritis. Severe deformity of the joints at the ends of the fingers.

Psoriasis affects 2.5% of white people in North America. Psoriatic arthritis affects 5-8% of people with psoriasis. A recent survey by the National Psoriasis Foundation indicated that approximately 1 million people in the United States have psoriatic arthritis. Many people who have psoriasis may not know that they have psoriatic arthritis.