Psoriatic Arthritis is a skin disease pegged to Arthritis symptoms. The disease appears in two phases. More often the first phase is Psoriasis and the second is a mixture of Arthritis and Psoriasis. Psoriasis symptoms are visibly disturbing. So who wouldn't want to consult a doctor to get rid of it? However, after a certain period of time, when arthritic symptoms begin to emerge, a person may tend to neglect them. Therefore people need to have the ability to distinguish between an ordinary illness and a serious disease.

Diagnosing is in fact a procedure that belongs to a Doctor's comfort zone. Only a certified medical practitioner with adequate experience will have the necessary knowledge to accurately diagnose a sickness. Sadly, Psoriatic Arthritis is a very confusing disease. Even Physicians may take time or make mistakes, while trying to figure out this disease. After all we are humans and no human is perfect.

Nevertheless here are some tips that you can follow to know when your times up for an appointment with the Rheumatologist or Dermatologist. Log on to the net. There is no place better than the net to get free access to a vast database of medical information. From websites containing medical articles to patient discussion forums to advice columns, the internet can make life very easy for you. Just type in your symptoms and see what turns up. If you couldn't come up with anything, simply watch out for the following.

Red patches on the skin that either itch, burn or do both is an alarm to see your Dermatologist. But if you have recovered from a Psoriasis attack, you need to look out for Psoriasis Arthritis symptoms. Swelling, intense pain and Stiffness in the joints-particularly in the morning hours and pitted nails are the first signs worthy of a Rheumatologist. Arthritis precedes Psoriasis in a rare 15% of people. Therefore if you were not a Psoriasis patient, you need to look out for symptoms of both illnesses.

In medical science, you cannot find a specific test, which can confirm the existence of this disease. Doctors diagnose Psoriatic Arthritis clinically and by eliminating irrelevant factors. They may ask you to take an X-ray or test to eliminate factors of other versions of Arthritis such as Gout, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, the treatments for these forms that work, like glucosamine, don't work well for this type of arthritis.

Since Psoriatic Arthritis bears symptoms that closely resemble other diseases, it is best not to attempt any medications without the advice of a Doctor. Keep in mind, that Psoriatic Arthritis is a serious disease that can cause permanent damages in the form of deformities and blindness. Therefore do not delay your visit to the Doctor if you experience arthritis symptoms.