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Psoriatic Arthritis
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Bones Joints Muscles

Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling in some people who have psoriasis, a skin disease characterized by red, scaly patches.

Overview

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. These patches typically appear on the elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms, and feet, though they can manifest on other parts of the body.

Some individuals with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis. This condition causes pain, stiffness, and swelling of the joints. While often mild, it can sometimes be serious and affect many joints. Notably, the joint and skin problems do not always occur at the same time.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Doctors diagnose psoriatic arthritis through a physical exam and imaging tests. While there is no cure for the condition, medicines are available to help control inflammation and pain. In rare cases, surgery may be required to repair or replace damaged joints.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. In approximately 10 to 15 percent of patients, joint pain and inflammation precede the appearance of skin plaques, a condition known as psoriatic arthritis sine psoriasis. In these cases, a family history of psoriasis or subtle signs like nail changes can guide the diagnosis.
Dactylitis is the uniform swelling of an entire finger or toe ("sausage digit"), while enthesitis is inflammation where tendons or ligaments insert into bone, commonly at the Achilles tendon or plantar fascia. Both are hallmark features that distinguish psoriatic arthritis from conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.
Nail changes, such as small surface indentations (pitting), crumbling, thickening, or yellow-brown discoloration resembling an oil drop, are strongly associated with psoriatic arthritis. Up to 80 percent of people with psoriatic arthritis have nail involvement, which often signals inflammation in the adjacent distal finger joints.
Over-the-counter pain relievers and NSAIDs only reduce temporary pain and swelling without altering disease progression. Biologic therapies, such as TNF, IL-17, or IL-23 inhibitors, target specific proteins driving the autoimmune attack, which actively stops permanent joint destruction and improves skin lesions simultaneously.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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