Psoriasis Action Month – August 2023

August is Psoriasis Awareness Month. Being one of the most uncommon illnesses, psoriasis affects over 20,000 individuals every single year. here in the UK, adding to 125 million sufferers worldwide.

The month is used as an opportunity to educate and inform sufferers on a range of topics varying from treatment, causes, triggers and management of the inflammatory and often irritating disease. The cause of psoriasis is still unknown but specialists do know that it is largely affected by the immune system and genetics.

Affecting men and women, all races and all ages, the disease can display on a variety of body parts at any given time therefore it is important to understand what you can do about it as and when you are affected by it. Learning to successfully manage treatment can take a long period of time but there are many ways in which the disease can be controlled and treated.

The event was first observed in October 1997 as a full-scale national awareness campaign, publicising relevant facts about psoriasis through newspapers, radio, and television. Thankfully, psoriasis is treatable; however, dissemination of vital information on all aspects of the disease is necessary, which is the aim of this month.

Whether you chose to do this via medication, holistic, complementary and alternative approaches, dietary control or lifestyle choices is down to each individual but there is a huge amount of support and information available enabling you to find the best solution. An often irritating and sometimes challenging disease, we hope you can find support to manage the symptoms successfully. The National Psoriasis Foundation website has lots of useful information to guide you, alongside ourselves here at Skin Matters Bristol.

The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) is a non-profit organisation which to help find a cure for psoriatic disease and improve the lives of those affected. The organisation is based in the USA. Psoriasis Action Month is designed to raise awareness of the disease and provide information about its causes and possible treatments.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is inflammatory skin disease which is characterised by red, flaky patches of skin with silvery or white scales. It can often appear on the elbows, arms, knees, legs or scalp. It is often irritating and symptoms include itching, burning and stinging. The skin can flare up in response to stress, injury, medications, or infection. Some sufferers find their symptoms worsen with the weather or certain foods.

It is not fully understood exactly what causes psoriasis, but it is known to be affected by the immune system and it tends to run in families. It is not contagious but sufferers can find that other people may be concerned about catching it. Psoriasis sufferers can find that the condition has an impact on their confidence and social life.

What are the symptoms of psoriasis?

“Psoriasis is a type of skin disease that affects about 2% of the population of the UK,” says consultant dermatologist Dr Natalia Spierings, author of Skintelligent: What You Really Need To Know To Get Great Skin.

“Patients develop thickened red plaques of skin with thick silvery white scale over the top.”

The most common places for plaques to appear are the backs of the elbows, the front of the knees, the scalp and the lower back. They may be itchy or painful.

“On brown and black skin, the patches can also be purple or dark brown in colour, and the scales may look grey,” says Aslam.

Psoriasis is also linked with an inflammatory form of arthritis, known as psoriatic arthritis, which Kim Kardashian was diagnosed with in 2019.

Aslam explains: “Psoriatic arthritis affects the nails, joints and can affect the eyes, the cardiovascular system and may cause insulin resistance, leading to diabetes.”