Psoriatic arthritis refers to an inflammatory type of arthritis which is linked with the persistent skin condition known as psoriasis. In other words, psoriatic arthritis is a condition under which arthritis and psoriasis occur side by side. It is mostly known to develop in the age amid 30 to 5 years in a person’s life. However there are no age-limits as it may even start in childhood.

It is equally found in both sexes-males and females. Psoriatic arthritis can be diagnosed by observing signs and symptoms of the disease. The severity, extent as well as pattern of symptoms may change over some period of time in the same person. The symptoms may even disappear after sometime. Some of the chief symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are as mentioned below.

Pain and swelling- During occurrence of psoriatic arthritis, a person may experience pain and swelling in one or even more joints including those of knees, wrists, ankles and at the ends of toes and fingers. Swelling in toes and fingers is also noticed sometimes. The joints also experience stiffness in the morning.

Back-pain- Patients suffering from psoriatic arthritis more often suffer from the problem of pain in lower back and the buttocks.

Plaque- It is perhaps the most important and distinct symptom of any kind of psoriasis. Plaque may be of any shape- round, irregular or oval. Plaque is actually cluster of dead cells that combine to make big clusters and appear on the skin. Plaques are mostly found in areas such as trunks, arms, joints, elbows and around the fissure skin.

Scales- These are the indicators of dead skin tissues and appear in silver to whitish color. Scales are dry and cover salmon colored skin underneath them. These are considered to be the most common signs or symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. Sometimes bleeding also occurs along with scales.

Redness- The psoriatic patients suffer from the problem of redness of skin. It is due to enhanced blood flow to the affected area.

Pattern-Psoriasis is mostly found to occur in a particular pattern such as bilateral pattern in the body. As an instance, it occurs on similar body parts such as knees, elbows, legs or arms in the similar pattern as well as intensity of color.

Fatigue- The patients suffering from psoriatic arthritis feel tired or exhausted even after doing some easy or simple physical activity.

Itching and dryness of the scalp- Under psoriatic arthritis condition, the patients feel an itching sensation and dryness in the scalp.

Discoloration- The nails also suffer from the problem of discoloration, pits, and ridges under psoriatic arthritis. It is found in nails of fingers as well as toes.

Pus filled psoriasis- Sometimes skin starts become dry and scaly and it is filled with pus in psoriatic patients. Rashes also appear on the skin.

Conjunctivitis- It is the inflammation of eyes and is also found in the psoriatic arthritis patients.