Next on the list of August month-long celebrations is National Psoriasis Awareness Month! (Okay, so maybe "celebration" isn't the best word to use here, but, what can you do?)
Psoriasis is "a common, chronic relapsing/remitting immune-mediated skin disease characterized by red, scaly patches, papules, and plaques, which usually itch." It is believed that 2-4% of the population suffers from this disease. There are also 5 different types of Psoriasis
- Plaque - the most common form of Psoriasis (85-90%), is identified as "raised areas of inflamed skin covered with silvery white scaly skin."
- Guttate - can be "characterized by numerous small, scaly, red or pink, teardrop-shaped lesions."
- Inverse - "appears as smooth inflamed patches of skin."
- Pustular - "raised bumps filled with noninfectious pus."
- Erythrodermic - also known as "oral psoriasis" and is the least frequent form, found in only 6-20% of those who have psoriasis on their skin.
Not unlike National Immunization Awareness Month, there doesn't appear to be a lot of background information available. The main purpose to the Month that I could find is relaying the message that Psoriasis is not contagious, but it is important to talk about as a means of debunk the myths surrounding the disease. People affected by Psoriasis sometimes have to deal with the scrutiny and judgement of others who do not understand what the disease is. Despite it being a fairly common affliction, we remain quite ignorant of what Psoriasis actually is. This Month aims to change that. Although...they make it kind of tough when they barely identify any information about how to get involved.
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| Image found at: http://www.checkbook.org/sitemap/health/Psoriasis/default.cfm?) |
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