World Psoriasis Day Patient Proclamation

Main Category: Eczema / Psoriasis
Article Date: 01 Nov 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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For more than 125 million people worldwide life with psoriasis can be misery. But there is hope for a brighter future -

To improve the quality of our lives, we, psoriasis patients across the world, urgently call for policy makers, healthcare professionals, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public to ensure that we:

-- Do not experience social exclusion or discrimination because of the appearance of our skin

-- Enjoy an excellent quality of life and, where necessary, receive therapy that improves our emotional well-being in addition to the symptoms of our skin condition

-- Gain easy and equal access, irrespective of where we live, to optimal and affordable treatment from the whole spectrum of healthcare workers

-- Are adequately educated about our disease so that its impact can be better managed and we can have more control over our daily lives

-- Can develop a positive patient-doctor partnership in which we are recognised as being experts on living with psoriasis and our opinions are valued when deciding the best management of our disease

-- Are supported through public awareness campaigns so that misconceptions about our disease can be dispelled. No one should continue to think that psoriasis is contagious or caused by poor hygiene

-- Can look forward to groundbreaking research into the physical, psychological and social issues surrounding our disease

We, people with psoriasis around the world, proclaim that the 29th October be recognised as World Psoriasis Day;

Because, psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that affects approximately 125 million people worldwide of whom nearly a quarter will go on to develop a painful form of arthritis known as psoriatic arthritis; and

Because, psoriasis causes unsightly, inflamed lesions on the skin that are painful, itchy and distressing; and psoriatic arthritis brings about disfigured, swollen joints that hinder mobility; and

Because, there are more than a dozen prescription medicines available for the treatment of psoriasis, many people with psoriasis still have very poor quality of life and no single treatment works for everyone. In addition, treatments can be costly, time-consuming, unpleasant and smelly, and can result in unwanted and very occasionally fatal side effects; and

Because, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis disrupt people's emotional well being, derail careers and home life and make many leisure activities impossible; and

Because, there is a huge unmet need to educate the general public and medical professionals about psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and encourage their support for people who live with these disease, their family and friends; and

Because, many doctors are not prepared to prescribe adequate treatment and psychological support often leaving patients frustrated and bewildered; and

Because, there is an urgent need to increase fundamental research to find the cause of psoriasis and an eventual cure for the disease.

In summary, because we want hope for a better future.

http://www.worldpsoriasisday.com

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