Condition education
An inflammatory arthritis linked to psoriasis that can damage joints if it is missed.
What it is
Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis that affects some people with psoriasis. It causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, and can also involve the spine, tendons, and the places where tendons attach to bone.
More than skin-deep. Psoriatic arthritis is part of the same systemic immune process as skin psoriasis. Catching it early matters, because untreated joint inflammation can cause permanent damage.
Signs and symptoms
Associated conditions
Psoriatic Arthritis can travel with other conditions, which is why whole-person assessment matters, not just treating the skin.
The burden
Joint pain and stiffness limit work and daily activities, and because the damage can be permanent, delays in recognition carry real cost.
Care has expanded
Recognizing psoriatic arthritis early and starting the right treatment can protect the joints. Care requires accurate diagnosis, severity assessment, and monitoring, often shared between dermatology and rheumatology, which is why specialty input matters.
How AURORA helps
AURORA connects local clinics across rural and remote Alaska to dermatology hubs, so psoriatic arthritis can be recognized, documented, and managed without a long trip away from home whenever clinically appropriate.
This page is general education, not medical advice. If you have a skin concern, please talk with a clinician. For a severe or rapidly worsening problem, seek local care right away.