World Psoriasis Day
October 29 is World Psoriasis Day, a global effort to raise public awareness about psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and the seriousness of these diseases.
Psoriasis—a noncontagious disease of the immune system that appears on the skin—affects approximately 125 million people worldwide. In the U.S., psoriasis is the most common autoimmune disease, affecting as many as 7.5 million people.
Psoriasis is linked to other serious conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, liver disease and obesity. People with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis report that their disease impacts their daily lives, shapes their feelings about themselves and affects how they believe others perceive them.
World Psoriasis Day is initiated by the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA). The National Psoriasis Foundation is a member of IFPA and supports its global campaign to receive recognition of psoriasis by the World Health Organization.
Ninfa Cantu, a Psoriasis Action Network advocate, is hosting an advocacy table at a dermatology clinic in her community. There, she will be encouraging people to sign a petition asking members of Congress to support federal legislation on psoriasis in observance of World Psoriasis Day. Since not everyone can sign Ninfa's petition, we have set up an online petition so everyone's voice can be heard.
This petition has been closed.
Eric Kimble, a National Psoriasis Foundation board member, is not missing out on the opportunity to have his voice heard on World Psoriasis Day. Eric is writing a letter to the editor of his local paper in an effort to raise awareness that psoriasis is a serious disease that deserves serious attention. You can do the same.
Brian Lehrschall, the Psoriasis Foundation's 2009 Volunteer Leader of the Year, has been a strong psoriasis advocate for years. In honor of World Psoriasis Day, he is taking his fight one step further. Brian is contacting his local government offices and asking for an official proclamation to be issued recognizing World Psoriasis Day. Take a look and give it a try!
Get involved in World Psoriasis Day.
Learn what others are doing around the globe at www.worldpsoriasisday.com.
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