Earlier this year, researchers from the Mayo Clinic published a study that revealed some alarming statistics when it comes to autoimmune disease.

Not only did these scientists find that, between 2011 and 2022, nearly 5% of the overall U.S. population was diagnosed with an autoimmune illness—a class of diseases in which the immune system attacks the body, for reasons not yet fully understood—but they also revealed that women were almost twice as likely to be diagnosed as men.

That’s why we wanted to put together an entire issue dedicated to the science and stories behind one of the most common autoimmune illnesses: psoriatic arthritis, or PsA. This condition affects patients like our cover star, Stacy London, who have previously been diagnosed with the inflammatory skin condition psoriasis, before going on to develop joint pain and stiffness, among other physical symptoms.

For London, healing began once she finally received a diagnosis, after suffering symptoms for years. “There was finally a name to this amorphous [experience],” she says. “I felt this incredible sense of relief.” At Flow Space, it’s our belief that by bringing more personal stories like London’s into the mainstream, we can help more women learn how to advocate for themselves—and finally start getting the healthcare they not only need, but deserve.