World Psoriasis Day 2020: BE INFORMED!

World Psoriasis Day observed every year on 29th of October. It was created by International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA) in 2004, World Psoriasis Day has grown into a leading platform for everyone to unite voices and promote psoriasis advocacy efforts.

Recommended: World Stroke Day is observed on October 29

Psoriasis patient associations, partner organizations, and corporate sponsors, get together to celebrate a day dedicated to people living with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis.

Aims

• Raise awareness
• Spread information
• Improve access to treatment
• Give the psoriasis community a voice

Impact of Psoriasis

Physically. People with psoriasis might experience constant itching or burning. Psoriatic arthritis can cause pain and persistent fatigue. Further, people with psoriasis have been shown to have an increased incidence of other non communicable diseases (NCDs) including, type 2 diabetes, psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.
Emotionally. Psoriasis is associated with a variety of psychological difficulties, including poor self-esteem, sexual dysfunction, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. The visibility of psoriatic lesions means that social stigmatisation and rejection are common experiences for people with psoriasis.
Socially. Physical discomfort, impaired emotional functioning, and negative body- and self-image leads to limitations in daily activities, avoidance of interpersonal situations or public places and thus, reduced social and occupational opportunities.
Economically. Psoriasis imposes a substantial economic burden on the individual and society. Besides the direct financial burden of treatment, psoriasis causes significant occupational disability. Not surprisingly, patients with more severe psoriasis must spend more time and money on treatment, which can ultimately affect their work status. Indirect costs include lost productivity and disability caused by limitations in activities of daily living.

Theme

The theme for World Psoriasis Day 2020 is “INFORMED”. 

Informed

• Informed patients can manage their condition better and motivate behavior change in their communities.
• Informed patient associations are effective in advocating the needs of psoriasis patients and helping them with social and psychological issues, something physicians have little time to do.
• Informed patient associations are effective in advocating the needs of psoriasis patients and helping them with social and psychological issues, something physicians have little time to do.
• Informed medical professionals have the ability to deliver positive, solid information about psoriasis and its treatments.
• Informed society will know that psoriasis is not transmittable to/from another person by touch or close contact, which will help to lessen the stigma, discrimination and exclusion of people living with psoriasis.
• Informed decision makers will be empowered to implement the recommendations stated in the WHO Resolution on Psoriasis, to create national guidelines/action plans and devote resources to support early screening of psoriasis patients.

Source of info: World Psoriasis Day Campaign materials