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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.
National Psoriasis Conference coming to
San Diego in August
Hundreds of patients joining top psoriasis doctors to celebrate Psoriasis Awareness Month, learn about new treatments
Portland, Ore., July 23, 2004 � Hundreds of psoriasis patients as well as leading psoriasis doctors will come together in San Diego from Aug. 6-8 to celebrate Psoriasis Awareness Month and learn about the latest treatments for the disease. The National Psoriasis Foundation® 2004 National Conference comes at an exciting time for psoriasis patients, as three new medications have recently been approved to treat psoriasis. August is Psoriasis Awareness Month.
"The national conference is a wonderful opportunity to discuss psoriasis informally with some of the nation�s leading psoriasis doctors," said Vickie Dowling, Psy.D., of Carlsbad, Calif., who has attended past conferences both as a psoriasis patient and a conference speaker. "But it is also that rare occasion where you can make human connections with other people who face the same challenges living with psoriasis, an incurable and often painful disease. The conference is an unforgettable experience."
The event will include more than 30 exhibits highlighting everything from biologics, a new class of drugs recently approved for psoriasis treatment, to thousand-year-old treatments like sea salts imported directly from the Dead Sea. Numerous workshops will give participants a chance to explore the many facets of the disease, from its physical impact to the emotional toll it takes. Session topics will include: pregnancy and psoriasis, parenting a child with psoriasis, tai chi for psoriatic arthritis, intimacy and psoriasis, and using the Internet to locate cutting-edge treatment information. There will also be workshops covering treatments for mild, moderate and severe psoriasis as well as for psoriatic arthritis.
The conference will be held Aug. 6-8 at the U.S. Grant hotel, 326 Broadway, San Diego, Calif. This year�s theme is Get on Board � and See Where We Can Go. To register or for more information, visit www.psoriasis.org or call 800.723.9166. The cost is $95 per person ($85 for members of the Foundation).
"Psoriasis is a disease with both physical and emotional costs," said Gail M. Zimmerman, president and CEO of the Psoriasis Foundation. "People with psoriasis, and their families, find the national conference rewarding because we tackle both elements of this difficult disease."
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 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. 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
Media inquiries:
Marketing and Communications Department
National Psoriasis Foundation
503.244.7404, ext. 413
pfasano@psoriasis.org
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