If you have psoriasis you probably think it can’t get any worse. For about 90% of psoriasis sufferers that statement is pretty much true. On the other hand, the remaining 10% additionally suffer from psoriatic arthritis. It may not seem like there is much of a connection between a skin disorder and a problem with a person’s joints, but in this case, there certainly is. To learn more about how the skin, psoriasis, and arthritis go together, here are a few good facts to know about this form of severe psoriasis.

• typical age of onset
• other demographic details
• unique symptoms

We have already reviewed that about 10% of psoriasis patients end up having to deal with arthritis too. This form of psoriasis can show up at any time, but the average age it likes to make its appearance is between 30 and 50 years old. No one is really sure of why this young to middle aged group are the most common patients.
The people most likely to be affected by this form of psoriasis are those with a family history of the disease. For some unknown reason, this form is also more likely to strike men than women. The numbers aren’t far apart, but the men lead in this illness. It is sure one victory the ladies are willing to concede.

The common symptoms associated with psoriasis include white or silvery patches on top of red lesions and intense itching that makes the patient miserable. It can affect a multitude of different body areas, but the most common are the elbows, knees, and scalp. The interesting part of psoriatic arthritis is that it usually affects the joints directly under the rash area. This form of psoriasis often goes undiagnosed for years until a horrible flare up inspires the doctors to look deeper into the cause of the joint pain. Just like other forms of arthritis, if left untreated, it can result in serious damage to the affected joints and become crippling. The good news is, with early detection and treatment, it can be controlled.