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Psoriasis is a life-long chronic autoimmune disease characterized by thick scaly skin lesions and often associated with severe arthritis. In psoriasis, lesions skin cells, keratinocytes, grow too quickly, resulting in thick, white, silvery or red patches on skin. Normal skin cells grow gradually and flake off about every four weeks, but psoriasis causes new skin cells to move rapidly to the surface of the skin in days rather than weeks. Psoriasis symptoms often appear on the elbows, scalp, feet, knees, hands, or lower back, or as flaking or patches on the skin. It is most common in adults, but teenagers and children can also suffer from psoriasis.Psoriasis is not only a skin condition; it is a chronic disease of the immune system. Chronic psoriasis is associated with other health conditions such as psoriatic arthritis, several inflammatory disorders, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This book provides extensive coverage of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. It features information on epidemiology and etiology of psoriasis, pathogenesis, genetics of psoriasis, clinical manifestations, and treatment options using cutting-edge drugs including adalimumab and tofacitinib. Natural phytochemicals and nutraceuticals have demonstrated efficacy in ameliorating psoriasis. The book dedicates comprehensive coverage of nutraceutical therapeutic options including antioxidants, bioactive peptides, carotenoids, alpha lipoic acid, curcumin, and whey protein. These inexpensive natural therapeutics are not associated with any known adverse side effects.

Educational advancement in the field of psoriatic arthritis which this book will provide is consistent with GRAPPA's aims and objectives leading to a productive synergy. GRAPPA (Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis), is recognized world wide as the leading international society for the study and promotion of awareness of psoriatic arthritis. GRAPPA is an association of leading rheumatologists, dermatologists, representatives of patient service leagues and other stakeholders focused on psoriasis and PsA.​Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) ranks with rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis as one of the most prevalent inflammatory arthropathies worldwide. There is now a significant global awareness among Rheumatologists, Dermatologists, Internal Medicine Specialists, Gastroenterologists, General Practitioners, Family Practitioners, Physiotherapists, Nurse Specialists, Immunogenetics and many other Health Care Professionals with regards to the importance of psoriatic arthritis.

This concise handbook looks at psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis as separate but often related conditions, focusing on a background around the indications, such as disease overview and epidemiology; going on to look at the etiology and immunopathogenesis of each indication; looking at the clinical presentation and diagnosis; before focusing on the current and emerging treatment options, including a brief section on the issues of quality of life and comorbidities associated with these indications. ​

In the past decade it has become increasingly clear that psoriatic disease, both of the skin and joints, can be a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the physician and a debilitating illness for the patient. At the same time, advances in genetics and immunology have increased our understanding of the pathophysiology of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. This text contains a comprehensive discussion by an international group of experts in psoriatic disease of the pathomechanisms, genetics, diagnosis, and treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The information is presented in parallel in order to emphasize the similarities and differences between these two diseases that so commonly occur together. We believe that this approach will make this text an important resource for all practitioners who treat patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.