PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

What is Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory arthristis associated with psoriasis. People with psoriatic arthritis may have scaly skin lesions, ridging and piting of nails, joint pain, stiffness and swelling of the fingers, which make them appear sausage-shaped.

Like psoriasis and rheumatoid, psoriatic arthritis involves the body's immune system. The immune system may be causing skin cells to grow too quickly and appear as red, scaly patches on the skin's surface (psoriasis). Immune cells can also attack your joints, causing swelling and pain.

Most people with psoriatic arthritis symptoms can be mild. However it is estimated that the arthristis in about half the people with psoriatic arthrisitis evolves into a serious form resembling rheumatoid arthritis. Everyday that psoriatic arthritis progresses without appropriate treatment, the joints may continue to be damaged.

The causes and triggers of psoriatic arthritis is still very much unknown, but what is known is that psoriatic arthritis involves environmental factors such as infection and trauma, heredity that runs in a family and immune system.

Because the pain may not be the most significant issue for patients with psoriatic arthritis, joint destruction can often go unnoticed. So it's important to be diagnosised and treated as soon as possible, as treatment may help protect your joints.

Some of the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are skins and nails (changes in fingernails and toe nails, red,scaly skin patches) , joints (morning stiffness, tenderness, painess and swelling, swollen fingers and toes)

If not treated psoriatic arthritis may lead to irreversible deterioration of the joints and disability. So if you think you have symptoms of psoriatic arthristis, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.