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Psoriatic arthritis can cause swelling, stiffness, and pain in your joints and areas where tendons attach to bones. It affects roughly 30% of people with psoriasis, typically starting within 7–10 years after skin symptoms begin. Some people develop joint symptoms before skin symptoms.
Psoriasis is most likely to affect skin on your elbows, knees, scalp, or lower back, but it may also affect other areas. It may affect more areas or larger areas of skin over time. It’s considered extensive when it affects more than 10% of your body surface area.
Other related conditions
Psoriasis Progression Guide
More widespread skin symptoms
Systemic inflammation
Psoriatic arthritis
Nail psoriasis
An estimated 40–50% of people with psoriasis have psoriatic nail symptoms, such as nail pitting, nail crumbling, or separation of the nail from the nail bed. These symptoms may affect one or more nails on your fingers or toes. They're linked to more severe skin symptoms and an increased risk of joint symptoms. Some people develop nail symptoms alone.
Psoriasis can cause systemic inflammation throughout your body, which may affect your skin and other tissues. Increased systemic inflammation may be a sign that psoriasis is progressing. If left untreated, systemic inflammation may damage your eyes, joints, heart, or other organs.
Psoriasis symptoms improve during periods of remission and worsen during periods of relapse, which are also known as flares. More frequent flares may be a sign that your condition is progressing or you need a change in treatment. One of the goals of treatment is to limit flares.
More frequent flares
More frequent flares
More widespread skin symptoms
Nail psoriasis
Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriasis increases your risk of other chronic conditions, such as uveitis (eye inflammation), inflammatory bowel disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Psoriasis may also affect your mental health. Talk with your doctor to learn how to manage the risks, and let them know if you notice changes in your health.
Other related conditions
Systemic inflammation