This month is Psoriasis Awareness Month, and the National Psoriasis Foundation is hosting a campaign to help patients struggling with this disease who need to take control of their condition. There are 7.5 million citizens currently struggling with psoriasis, so it is absolutely vital for healthcare professionals to take action and to raise awareness around the disease.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease where the cells in the affected areas of the skin, called keratinocytes, reproduce much faster than the ones in a healthy individual, and accumulate into deposits, creating scaly, reddish patches on the surface of the skin. Luckily, psoriasis is not contagious. However, it can be genetic and fathers, typically, are the ones who pass this gene down to their offspring.

The disease can manifest at any age, though it tends to appear with much more frequency in two periods of the person’s life: between the ages of 20 and 30, and  between the ages of 50 and 60. Furthermore, while psoriasis seems likes it only causes these patches of hardened skin, it also leads to a higher risk of other diseases like diabetes, psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and depression, among others.

Those who live with this disease have to suffer through an uphill battle on a daily basis. They are constantly dealing with aches, pains, exhaustion and, above all, the risk of comorbid diseases, as well as living with the effects on their appearance caused by the disease.

Nevertheless, the National Psoriasis Foundations insists, through their campaign, that the only way to truly address this rising concern is by understanding the physical and psychological factors that come with the disease and learning about the available treatment options for managing its symptoms, both physical and mental.

The National Psoriasis Foundation has created Psoriasis Awareness Month, where they intend to spread awareness of the design, as well as educate caregivers and professionals alike about the disease, while also encouraging them to take an active role in this initiative. The educational part of the campaign is fulfilled through their virtual kickoff hosted on their website. In this site, any interested parties will be able to find blogs, webcasts, and social media content related to the condition. Furthermore, visitors of the website are also encouraged to participate in challenges and trials in order to win prizes, including trips to the NPF HQ in Chicago, where the association covers all expenses, including airfare for two, food, and hotel expenses.

How Can I Help?

Besides visiting the website every week of August to discover the theme and learning about the weekly challenges, other ways where  you could help the cause is by following the National Psoriasis Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  There you can find tips, information, memes, and other fun content to share with friends and those who might be interested in the info.

Furthermore, you could show your support to the cause by tweeting about psoriasis and adding the hashtag #PsAM18 while tagging your friends and family. You could also participate in the call-to-action hosted on the website, which prompts people to engage in fun challenges on social media, such as taking selfies or participating in photo and video sharing contests.

Another way to directly support the cause is by simply donating to the National Psoriasis Foundation to help advance research and the development of a cure for this condition. You could also participate in a walk, run, or cycle event sponsored by the Foundation in order to raise awareness and funds for the cause. However, if you’re not a fan of sports, you could also host a DIY event involving your favorite hobbies or pastimes, and share your interests with like-minded individuals and raise some money for the cause in the process.

Lastly, if you or your friends believe that they might be developing psoriasis, or are experiencing any of its symptoms, please consider visiting a dermatologist in your area, as these specialists are the most suited for assessing and diagnosing the condition.