While there are well over 100 different types of arthritis in existence, unfortunately many people do not even realize that there are other types of arthritis besides rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. But guess what my friend, there are many other types of arthritis that can invade your life.

Psoriatic arthritis is definitely one of the lesser known types of arthritis. But it is a serious form of arthritis nonetheless. Oh, if it only got the "glamor girl" attention that rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis does! Come on people, give psoriatic arthritis its due! Pay attention here!

We can learn a lot about this disease just from the name of the disease. Guess what? This joint condition is associated with a skin condition often known as "the heartbreak of psoriasis". I know you've heard of that one! Well,psoriasis is a rather common skin condition in which the skin of the body reacts and shows up as red, raised patches on the skin, alligator-like scaly skin and simply an over all, generalized inflammation of the skin. Right now, psoriasis is known to affect around 2% of Caucasian Americans. But it is important to remember that this skin condition can most definitely appear in others besides just the Caucasian population.

The skin condition psoriasis most often affects the scalp, face, navel, tips of the elbows, knees, and areas surrounding the genitals and anus. Health professionals estimate that 10 per cent of all psoriasis patients concurrently develop some form of inflammation in the affected joints. These patients are thus classified as suffering from psoriatic arthritis.

Here's one of the important things to remember about psoriatic arthritis, if you have already been diagnosed with psoriasis, then you are at a much higher risk for developing psoriatic arthritis. This is particularly true if your arthritis has also impacted your joints. This condition can be quite painful and debilitating without active and aggressive treatment. It seems almost cruel in its onset since it doesn't seem to strike until later in life, sometimes not striking until you are in your 40s or 50s. And sorry ladies, you don't get off easy here, psoriatic arthritis is an equal opportunity invader and affects both men and women equally.

The majority of those who battle psoriatic arthritis actually battle psoriasis first. Yes, many patients experience the onset of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis at different times. So it should be a warning sign that if you see psoriasis that you should also be on the look out for the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.

However, some patients develop arthritis before the onset of psoriasis. Roughly 15 per cent of psoriatic arthritis patients report the presence of arthritic symptoms before developing psoriasis. In fact, many patients report living with psoriasis for many years before developing any signs of arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis is a systematic disease just like other forms of arthritis. With any systemic disease, other areas of the body can be attacked as well. So this simply means that you best be on the look out for problems with other body parts. For example, psoriatic arthritis patients can also be at risk for other problems with the kidneys and lungs. Patients may also experience problems with the heart, the eyes and the mouth. Systemic ... affecting other areas as well. The whole body is at risk.

In severe forms of the disease, other vital organs may also be affected. Like other forms of arthritis (especially reactive arthritis and spondylitis), psoriatic arthritis patients are more prone to experiencing inflammation in the spine.

So, here's the million dollar question. Just what causes psoriatic arthritis? Want the million dollar answer? Ok, here it is, we don't really know the cause of psoriatic arthritis. While there are many scholarly theories out there that attempt to explain the basis of psoriatic arthritis, the precise cause remains a mystery. Current research seems to point to many factors which can contribute to the development of psoriatic arthritis. One such factor is environmental, another is a flaky immune system and finally a genetic marker, known as HLA-B27. This particular genetic marker is found in many psoriatic arthritis patients, but it is not always the case and so don't count on it.

There are even other genetic markers that are found in cases of psoriatic arthritis which continue to lead to researchers to believe that this condition is genetic in nature. Lab tests can help to confirm these genetic markers if they are present. Some research also indicates that a faulty immune system may also be a causative factor in the case of psoriatic arthritis. Other research shows that environmental factors may be to blame. Any way you slice it, the reasons can vary behind the development of psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis is a battle that many face each and every day. It really does not matter the reason why you developed this version of arthritis in the first place, what does matter is that you are ready to work cooperatively with your doctor in order to build a treatment plan that you can work with and one that is designed to give you the best level of health that you can enjoy. Psoriatic arthritis does not have to be a harness around your neck, but it certainly will become one if you are passive about it. Get to it and educate yourself about your own health condition.