23/10/2020
29 October is World Psoriasis Day. An annual day specially dedicated to people with psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis. Conceived by patients for patients, World Psoriasis Day is a worldwide event that is held to give an international voice to the 125 million people with psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis.
Nearly three percent of the world’s population, men, women, and children, even newborn babies, endure the symptoms of psoriasis. Many tolerate constant pain from cracking and bleeding skin. They bear the humiliation of continually shedding scales that litter their clothes and surroundings. They struggle with the disappointment of treatments and the lack of a cure. Some wrestle with a crippling form of arthritis. More than anything, they sometimes bear the brunt of public rejection because of the misunderstanding surrounding the disease.
Yet, much of the world’s population finds psoriasis a trivial matter requiring little understanding or sympathy. Sometimes they even find it humorous and enjoy a chuckle over the “heartbreak of psoriasis” an advertising tagline made popular in the USA. Some people still equate psoriasis with being unclean or self imposed and shun those who bear its mark. When, in fact, many people with psoriasis isolate themselves because of such a deep sense of shame.
Psoriasis associations from around the world give people the tools to cope with this troubling disease. They rebuild people’s hope and give them the support they require. IFPA provides the reinforcement to build better psoriasis associations, gives member associations a global voice to campaign on behalf of those who bear its mark, and the unity that strengthens everyone’s ability to support research that will someday find a cause and a cure for these diseases.
