Overview
August is Psoriasis Awareness Month, which aims to help those affected feel supported, raise awareness and give the public a better understanding of the disease.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease (a disease with no clear cause and characterized by inflammation caused by a malfunction of the immune system) that causes inflammation in the body. There may be visible signs of inflammation such as raised plaques (plaques may look different for different skin types) and scales on the skin.
This happens because an overactive immune system speeds up the growth of skin cells. Normal skin cells grow and shed (fall off) within a month. In psoriasis, skin cells do this in just three or four days. Instead of falling off, skin cells build up on the surface of the skin. Some people report that psoriasis plaques itch, burn and sting. The plaques and scales can appear on any part of the body, although they are mostly found on the elbows, knees and scalp.
Objectives
- Supporting and assisting people with psoriasis
- Educating and increasing community awareness about psoriasis
Facts
- More than 8 million people in the United States and 125 million people worldwide have psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. There is no treatment for it yet.
- 30% of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis.
- Psoriatic arthritis usually occurs between the ages of 30 and 50, but it can develop at any age.
Official Date
Globally: August 1st-31st, 2024
Locally: Safar 7 – Rabi' Al Awwal 8, 1447 AH.
References
National Psoriasis Foundation - About-psoriasis.
National Psoriasis Foundation – world psoriasis day.