Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis, which occurs in association with psoriasis. In-fact almost 80% of the people suffering from psoriasis, develop psoriatic arthritis as well. As a result for this the patient shows some peculiar symptoms which develop because of this association of both of the diseases. These symptoms help in the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis.

In most of the cases, symptoms of psoriasis are observed first and psoriatic arthritis develops after some years. Therefore, if a person has psoriasis arthritis and if he shows the symptoms as pain, swelling, etc in joints then there are chances that he may have developed psoriatic arthritis. In such a situation, he should opt for diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis.

In some cases, however the reverse may happen i.e. first the patient may develop the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis and then after some time, the symptoms of psoriasis start appearing on the skin. However, it is important to diagnose psoriatic arthritis as early as possible. The peculiar symptoms of the psoriatic arthritis are helpful for diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis in such a situation. If they occur then the medical tests can be done for confirmation.

Psoriatic arthritis will usually affect the smaller joints. The most commonly affected joints are the joints in digits from our limbs. The initial symptoms are pain in the affected joints, which occurs due to inflammation and swelling. The swelling and inflammation increases so much that the entire part starts appearing swelled up. In this situation, it also becomes red tender. The skin in the joint region shows patches similar to the psoriasis. The patches can develop in the other parts of the body as well.

Most of the times it affects more than one joint at a time therefore if the above symptoms are observed in more than one joints it can be a confirmation for psoriatic arthritis.

There are no medical tests for diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. However, at the later stages the damaged joints can be observed with the radiological methods. However, the damage occurs after a long time. Apart from this biopsy is done for the joints to rule out the occurrence of any other disease.

Therefore, for most of the times the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis will depend upon physical symptoms shown by the patient. As soon as the symptoms are observed by the patient, he should consult a doctor and the treatment should commence as early as possible.