Psoriasis is a long-term skin condition where your skin makes new cells too quickly. These extra skin cells build up on the surface and form red, dry, scaly patches that can feel itchy, sore, or uncomfortable.

Around 30% of people who suffer from psoriasis will also develop joint problems.¹ This is known as psoriatic arthritis, or PsA.

PsA is a long-term inflammatory disease that causes joint pain, swelling and stiffness.² Your symptoms will likely look different to those of somebody else with PsA, because symptoms vary person to person. No two people experience PsA in the same way, and everyone is likely to respond differently to treatment. Approximately 30% of people with psoriasis will eventually develop PsA, highlighting the general risk among all individuals with the condition. However, even among those actively monitored by dermatologists, it is believed that around 15% may have undiagnosed PsA.³ PsA often develops 5 to 10 years after the onset of psoriasis, but can occur earlier.⁴

The inflammation affects the musculoskeletal system (which includes bones, joints and tendons). If you suffer from PsA, you may find that there is little to no relationship between the severity of this musculoskeletal inflammation and the severity of the skin or nail psoriasis.¹

References

1. About Psoriatic Arthritis – National Psoriasis Foundation. Available at: https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriatic-arthritis. Last accessed April 2025.
2. Psoriatic arthritis – NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/psoriatic-arthritis/. Last accessed April 2025.
3. Psoriatic arthritis – Dermatology Times. Available at: https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/screening-psoriasis-patients-psoriatic-arthritis. Last accessed April 2025.
4. Mease, P.J., Armstrong, A.W. Managing Patients with Psoriatic Disease: The Diagnosis and Pharmacologic Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis in Patients with Psoriasis. Drugs. 2014:74;423–441.