Arthritis and psoriasis can be paired in some cases.  Of course, they can occur independently of each other.  But it’s much more likely to actually work in relation to each other.  They are both technically autoimmune disorders, occurring when the immune system is actually too strong and starts attacking healthy cells as opposed to the dangerous cells it should be attacking. 

 About 2.5% of North American Caucasians suffer from psoriasis, though it’s less prevalent in Native Americans and African American individuals.  Out of those few suffering from psoriasis, only about 5-8% actually suffer from psoriatic arthritis.  So it’s not exactly common to say the least.  However, it is recognized as a completely separate condition from either arthritis in general or psoriasis. 

They generally develop psoriasis symptoms before the arthritis and joint problems surface.  It tends to strike men and women at the same rates, and it presents with inflammation in the hands and feet in women and in the spine in men.  It generally develops between the ages of 35 and 55, though of course it is not completely out of the question in other age ranges.  There may be some genetic component, but researchers are not quite sure at this point in time.