Allie
09-13-2006, 06:18 AM
Psoriasis fact sheet created for teachers advertisement
Sep 11 (HealthCentersOnline) - A new resource is now available to help children with psoriasis head back to school.
Hundreds of thousands of American children suffer from psoriasis, a common disorder marked by raised, inflamed lesions that join together to form patches with distinct borders on the skin. The lesions are covered with flaky scales due to the rapid turnover of cells in the epidermis (the top layer of skin). It often produces dry, painful skin that can itch, crack and bleed. The condition greatly affects a person's quality of life.
Psoriasis Cure Now, a patient advocacy group, recently released a fact sheet on psoriasis in children that parents can print off the Internet and deliver to their child's teachers, coaches, school nurse and any other adult who interacts with the child.
Entitled "Children with Psoriasis: THE FACTS," the information sheet was created with input by parents of children with psoriasis, teachers, people who had psoriasis during childhood and a dermatologist. The sheet is free and can be found on the PsoriasisKids.org Web site. The site also offers parents a number of other resources about psoriasis in children, including a podcast interview with Dr. Amy Paller, an expert on psoriasis in children.
"Too often, children are the forgotten psoriasis sufferers," said Michael Paranzino, president of Psoriasis Cure Now, in a press release. "Psoriasis medications are seldom FDA-approved for children and the literature is likewise typically focused on adults, leaving parents of children with psoriasis struggling to help their children manage this painful disease. As children with psoriasis head back to school, these resources will help their parents reach out to educators to increase awareness and understanding of the unique challenges faced by kids with psoriasis. The podcast with Dr. Paller is must-listening for parents, and the psoriasis fact sheet should be packed along with lunch for the first day of school."
Facts addressed in the information sheet include:
Psoriasis is a serious disease.
Psoriasis is not contagious.
Psoriasis can cause physical pain.
For many children, psoriasis also causes significant emotional pain.
The sheet also offers advice on what teachers and other adults can do for a child with psoriasis, including:
Educate yourself and, if appropriate, the child's classmates and other teachers about psoriasis.
Be attuned to both the physical and emotional challenges psoriasis can cause, and how it can affect a child's performance inside and outside the classroom.
Encourage the child to communicate his or her feelings about psoriasis to both teachers and parents, so appropriate action can be taken.
Understand that some adults expose their psoriasis to the public, while others try to keep it hidden. Children are no different, and the child's decision in this regard should be respected.
Note that children with psoriasis should particularly avoid strep infections and sunburn, which can cause psoriasis to worsen.
Encourage optimism in the child. New treatments continue to be developed for psoriasis, and the future is bright.
Details regarding these new resources were provided by Psoriasis Cure Now in a recent press release.
Copyright 2000-2006 HealthCentersOnline, Inc.
Publish Date: September 11, 2006
Sep 11 (HealthCentersOnline) - A new resource is now available to help children with psoriasis head back to school.
Hundreds of thousands of American children suffer from psoriasis, a common disorder marked by raised, inflamed lesions that join together to form patches with distinct borders on the skin. The lesions are covered with flaky scales due to the rapid turnover of cells in the epidermis (the top layer of skin). It often produces dry, painful skin that can itch, crack and bleed. The condition greatly affects a person's quality of life.
Psoriasis Cure Now, a patient advocacy group, recently released a fact sheet on psoriasis in children that parents can print off the Internet and deliver to their child's teachers, coaches, school nurse and any other adult who interacts with the child.
Entitled "Children with Psoriasis: THE FACTS," the information sheet was created with input by parents of children with psoriasis, teachers, people who had psoriasis during childhood and a dermatologist. The sheet is free and can be found on the PsoriasisKids.org Web site. The site also offers parents a number of other resources about psoriasis in children, including a podcast interview with Dr. Amy Paller, an expert on psoriasis in children.
"Too often, children are the forgotten psoriasis sufferers," said Michael Paranzino, president of Psoriasis Cure Now, in a press release. "Psoriasis medications are seldom FDA-approved for children and the literature is likewise typically focused on adults, leaving parents of children with psoriasis struggling to help their children manage this painful disease. As children with psoriasis head back to school, these resources will help their parents reach out to educators to increase awareness and understanding of the unique challenges faced by kids with psoriasis. The podcast with Dr. Paller is must-listening for parents, and the psoriasis fact sheet should be packed along with lunch for the first day of school."
Facts addressed in the information sheet include:
Psoriasis is a serious disease.
Psoriasis is not contagious.
Psoriasis can cause physical pain.
For many children, psoriasis also causes significant emotional pain.
The sheet also offers advice on what teachers and other adults can do for a child with psoriasis, including:
Educate yourself and, if appropriate, the child's classmates and other teachers about psoriasis.
Be attuned to both the physical and emotional challenges psoriasis can cause, and how it can affect a child's performance inside and outside the classroom.
Encourage the child to communicate his or her feelings about psoriasis to both teachers and parents, so appropriate action can be taken.
Understand that some adults expose their psoriasis to the public, while others try to keep it hidden. Children are no different, and the child's decision in this regard should be respected.
Note that children with psoriasis should particularly avoid strep infections and sunburn, which can cause psoriasis to worsen.
Encourage optimism in the child. New treatments continue to be developed for psoriasis, and the future is bright.
Details regarding these new resources were provided by Psoriasis Cure Now in a recent press release.
Copyright 2000-2006 HealthCentersOnline, Inc.
Publish Date: September 11, 2006