| The latest news releases from the National Psoriasis Foundation on research developments into psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, National Psoriasis Foundation events for its members and the public and other relevant happenings.
The National Psoriasis Foundation Responds to 'The Singing Detective' The upcoming national release of the motion picture “The Singing Detective,” starring Robert Downey Jr., is being met with both excitement and trepidation by the 5 million Americans with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. “The Singing Detective” premieres Oct. 9 in New York, followed by other cities later in the month. The Psoriasis Foundation provided advice to the filmmakers but had no say in the final product. "The Singing Detective" is not a mainstream film, and even though the main character has severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, it is not really about the diseases. The film opens with a disturbing scene in which Downey’s character is covered head to toe with psoriasis and is suffering from crippling psoriatic arthritis in his hands. But while his medical condition and treatment recur as a subplot through the film, the word “psoriasis” is never uttered. We hope the film sparks a dialogue about psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and the serious impact these incurable diseases can have on people’s lives. The film breaks new ground by portraying psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis as the physically and emotionally debilitating diseases they can be. The National Psoriasis Foundation also will also help educate the public about the facts of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis on www.psoriasis.org and in the media. Stay tuned to www.psoriasis.org for more details! About Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a lifelong skin disease that occurs when faulty signals in the immune system cause skin cells to regenerate too quickly-every three to four days instead of the usual 30-day cycle. Extra skin cells build up on the skin's surface, forming red, flaky, scaly lesions that can itch, crack, bleed and be extremely painful. Psoriasis generally appears on the joints, limbs and scalp but it can appear anywhere on the body, covering some people from head to toe. More than 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis, a degenerative disease of the joints and connective tissues associated with psoriasis. Psoriasis typically first strikes people between the ages of 15 and 35, but can affect anyone at any age, including children. About the National Psoriasis Foundation
The National Psoriasis Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization fighting to improve the quality of life of the more than 5 million Americans diagnosed with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis and their families. Sustained by annual contributions from nearly 50,000 members as well as corporate and foundation grants, its mission is to educate people about these diseases and their treatments, raise public awareness, and support ongoing research. The organization is headquartered in Portland, Ore. For more information, please call the Psoriasis Foundation at 800.723.9166 or visit http://www.psoriasis.org. | 
