Psoriasis on 'Extreme Makeover' TV show
Psoriasis Foundation applauds airing, clarifies treatment complexities
On Jan. 13, 2005, ABC's reality TV show "Extreme Makeover" provided a venue for sharing information about psoriasis to a national primetime audience. Psoriasis is rarely mentioned in such detail on television. The National Psoriasis Foundation applauds ABC for bringing national awareness to how psoriasis can seriously affect one's quality of life.
The show featured Aimee, a 32-year-old mother in Las Vegas, whose dream was "to smile all the time, like Julia Roberts." However, her severe psoriasis had eroded her self-esteem and seriously damaged her quality of life. Many of the more than 4.5 million adults Americans who have been diagnosed with psoriasis experience these same feelings.
In addition to cosmetic procedures and dental replacements, her psoriasis was treated with a medication delivered by a subcutaneous injection. The show revisited her at 8 weeks, when her psoriasis had improved dramatically.
The show identified the injection as a new medical treatment for psoriasis. We assume this treatment was one of the biologics that has recently been approved for treating moderate to severe psoriasis and which can be successful for many patients. These new biologics are a great advance in psoriasis treatment; for many people, they can clear the symptoms of moderate to severe psoriasis, often for long periods of time. However, we want people to be aware that no single treatment works for everyone. Because of the individual nature of psoriasis, many patients must often experiment with treatments before finding one that works for them. Also, many people remain without satisfactory relief and are in urgent need of additional treatment options.
The National Psoriasis Foundation is pleased that psoriasis received much-needed attention on a primetime show. The Foundation offers emotional support through its online message boards, affiliated support groups and access to specialized patient educators. It requests that those seeking more information call the National Psoriasis Foundation at 800.723.9166, e-mail getinfo@psoriasis.org or visit www.psoriasis.org
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