All You Want to Know About Psoriatic Arthritis

Tess June 11th, 2008

Although the cause of Psoriasis is not entirely understood, scientists have suggested that it may be caused by a malfunctioning immune system. The affects of the disease is mainly thought of as a skin condition but it does affect joints too.

Psoriatic arthritis is the type of psoriasis where the joints are swollen, painful and stiff very similar to arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis can be serious, causing bone loss as well as deformed joints. A statistic from the National Psoriasis foundation put an estimate of about 10% - 30% on the number of people with psoriasis who also have psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic mainly affects adults but it can occur in children. Psoriatic arthritis can only happen to individuals who have psoriasis. The existence of psoriasis usually surfaces before symptoms of psoriatic arthritis but occasionally the psoriatic arthritis occurs first. Typically the one happens years before the other. This stretch of time between the two is what makes diagnosing it difficult for doctors. The debilitating aspects of psoriatic arthritis are the worse part of psoriasis; especially if left untreated.

An overactive immune system is to blame for the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. The result can be inflamed tissues around joints. Just like psoriasis the swelling will occur and then subside only to reoccur some time later. Also, just like psoriasis there are different types of psoriatic arthritis. The five types are Arthritis mutilans, asymmetric arthritis, distal interphalangeal predominant (DIP), spondylitis and symmetric arthritis.

Arthritis mutilans is the rare form of psoriatic arthritis and is usually debilitating. The two main body parts that it affects are the hands and feet, with possible back and neck involvement. There can be permanent deformity with this type.

Asymmetric arthritis presents in approximately 70% of all psoriatic arthritis cases. It can affect just one joint or it may have an affect on multiple joints. The joints most involved in this form of psoriasis are the fingers, hip, joints, and knee. It is normally mild but it can be debilitating. It too may involve swelling of the affected body parts as well as reddened skin.

Distal interphalangeal predominant (DIP) is the less common of all the psoriatic arthritis types. The joints most affected by this type of psoriasis are those joints located closest to the fingernails or toenails. The nails themselves can also be affected too.

Spondylitis will make those who have it experience painful movement. The two most common body parts to be involved are the back and neck. It can on occasion affect the spinal column.

Symmetric arthritis is like its name; both sides of the body will have the same symptoms and affected joints. This type of psoriasis resembles rheumatoid arthritis.

Individuals will experience the following symptoms if they have psoriatic arthritis: irritation and also redness of the eyes, pain and/or swelling of the joints (one or more), and also stiffness of the joints. Individuals with psoriatic arthritis also have the regular symptoms of psoriasis that include red, patches of scaly skin.