According to research from the Cleveland Clinic, approximately 30% of psoriasis patients will develop psoriatic arthritis or are living with undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis. Individuals with psoriasis or a family history of psoriasis can be susceptible to the characteristic joint pain and swelling of this painful autoimmune disease. Psoriatic arthritis strikes that joints and tendons resulting in swelling and joint pain that can travel from joint to joint.

Untreated psoriatic arthritis can lead to joint destruction and eventual joint disability if it’s not diagnosed and treated early, which is why it’s vital for psoriasis patients to know the symptoms, and report them to a family doctor immediately:

1. Joint pain and inflammation

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic condition that causes one or more affected joints to swell. Many patients explain the swelling in fingers or toes as red and “sausage-like” in appearance.

2. Nail issues

Psoriatic arthritis that strikes the fingers and toes can cause telltale inflammation as well as alter the appearance of the fingernails and toenails, causing the nail surface to crack, separate, and appear pitted and uneven.

3. Joint stiffness

Along with arthritis pain, psoriatic arthritis is often accompanied by recurring joint stiffness, particularly of the feet and ankles, and can afflict multiple joints or move from one joint to another.

4. Back pain

In addition to joint pain, psoriatic arthritis can also cause back pain to develop, particularly in the lower back or tailbone region.

5. Hot spots

Akin to other forms of arthritis, psoriatic arthritis can cause what’s known as “hot spots” or joints that become warm or hot to the touch due to an inflammatory flare up in of the affected joint.

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