World Psoriasis Day calls attention to a serious disease
PORTLAND, Ore. (Oct. 24, 2006)—They'll be celebrating all over the world with events that run the gamut — from a 5K street walk in Kenya to a roller skating exhibition in Paris. While the activities may seem a bit frivolous, the reason for gathering — to bring public awareness to psoriasis — is as serious as the disease itself.
Oct. 29, 2006, marks the third annual World Psoriasis Day, a day dedicated to spreading awareness about psoriasis and giving attention and consideration to those who have the disease — an estimated 125 million people worldwide. World Psoriasis Day is coordinated by the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA), a global consortium of psoriasis patient associations from around the world, including the National Psoriasis Foundation, a founding member of IFPA.
World Psoriasis Day recognizes the serious nature of psoriasis, a disease often dismissed as merely a cosmetic skin condition. Reinforcing the critical aspects of the disease are recent headlines showing psoriasis patients to be at an increased risk for heart attack, and others announcing the possible link between psoriasis and health conditions such as diabetes, liver disease, depression and obesity.
"Now more than ever we are recognizing the seriousness of psoriasis," says Gerald G. Krueger, M.D., a leading psoriasis researcher at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. "As we learn more about psoriasis and its inter-relationship with, as well as its role in causing, serious comorbidities such as liver disease and heart disease, we can no longer ignore it or write it off as a trivial skin disease."
Educating others that psoriasis is a common, chronic, noncontagious disease of the immune system is an important part of the work the National Psoriasis Foundation does on behalf of as many as 7.5 million Americans who have the disease. The Psoriasis Foundation is also deeply committed to acting as a patient advocate in Washington, D.C., and supporting research to find a cure for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
The Psoriasis Foundation believes that genetic research is integral to finding a cure, and this year launched one of its most important and exciting research projects to date: the National Psoriasis Victor Henschel BioBank. This critically needed resource will be the largest collection of psoriasis genetic samples in the world accessible to qualified researchers.
One way people can support World Psoriasis Day this year is to participate in the BioBank. The Psoriasis Foundation is seeking samples from individuals who have psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, and from those who do not.
As a resource for researchers, the National Psoriasis BioBank may ultimately shed light on the connection between psoriasis and other conditions. According to Gail Zimmerman, president and CEO of the National Psoriasis Foundation, "Participating in the BioBank is one way to support research toward a cure for this serious disease. And, in celebration of World Psoriasis Day, it would be an especially generous gesture," she said.
To learn more about the National Psoriasis Foundation, or World Psoriasis Day, go to www.psoriasis.org or call 800.723.9166.
About psoriasis
Psoriasis is a noncontagious, genetic disease that results when faulty signals in the immune system prompt skin cells to regenerate too quickly, causing red, scaly lesions that crack and bleed. It often affects the elbows, knees, scalp and torso but can appear anywhere on the body. As many as 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis, according to the National Institutes of Health. Ten percent to 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints. Psoriasis can affect anyone at any age, including children. There is no cure yet for this lifelong disease.
About the National Psoriasis Foundation
The National Psoriasis Foundation is the leading patient-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life millions of Americans with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis, and their families. The Psoriasis Foundation focuses on education, advocacy and research toward better treatments and a cure. For more information, please call the National Psoriasis Foundation, headquartered in Portland, Ore., at 800.723.9166, or visit www.psoriasis.org.
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