Psoriasis — More Progress but More Questions

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects more than 60 million persons worldwide and is characterized by red, scaly plaques that itch, crack, and bleed. Any area of the skin can be affected, with the scalp, genitals, palms, and soles being especially burdensome. The disease course is varied; approximately 20% of patients have moderate-to-severe cutaneous involvement, and among those patients, inflammatory arthritis develops in approximately 30%. Advances in genetics, immunology, and epidemiology have redefined psoriasis — previously thought to be "just a skin disease" — as a systemic condition associated with obesity, diabetes, major cardiovascular events, and a life . . .