Hope. Action. Change.
A new era started with hope and vision for millions of psoriasis patients on October 29, 2004. The International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA) declared the psoriasis day on that day.
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a common, chronic, relapsing, immune-mediated, inflammatory disorder with primary involvement of the skin and a strong genetic predisposition. The disease onset usually occurs in younger ages. Skin lesions typically represent erythematous, inflammatory plaques and silvery scaling expressing the inflammatory changes and keratinocyte hyperproliferation.
A substantial proportion of psoriasis patients experience an inflammatory polyarthritis (psoriatic arthritis). Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis cause major physical, functional and psychosocial disability.
With increasing severity the spectrum of psoriasis is associated with signs of systemic inflammation and several co-morbidities including cardio-vascular diseases, the metabolic syndrome, an increased risk for mortality and shorter life-span. Special types include nail psoriasis, pustular psoriasis (localised to palms and soles, or generalised), psoriatic erythroderma, inverse psoriasis and various forms of palmo-plantar involvement.
World Psoriasis Day
Goal of World Psoriasis Day is to produce awareness among the psoriasis sufferers, families and friends including kins and surroundings. Awareness about psoriasis will help every individual concerned about the disease. According to present data there are 1.25 million patients of psoriasis in the world.
The theme of World Psoriasis Day 2015 is: Hope. Action. Change.
Hope: Man cannot live without hope. Chronic patients of psoriasis first need hope of cure which will guide them to cure or control disease. Tension, stress and agitation increase most of the chronic diseases including psoriasis. Optimism is a word very much needed for a patient to have self confidence to cure or control his disease. Be confident on yourself because self confidence will guide you to have a normal peaceful life.
Action: All of us should have empathy for patients rather than sympathy. Psoriasis is not an infectious or contagious disease. Each and every person must believe that there is no harm to shake hands or embrace a psoriasis patient. Nothing will happen even in conjugal life of non psoriatic spouse. Control of the disease already exists.
Change: We need realistic diagnostic tools which includes clinical eye, good laboratory with trained experts. We need open discussion between physician, patients and the relatives about the disease with helping attitude and empathy. Psoriasis patients should think that they are no longer alone which will help them to have normal, happy and hopeful life. This will bring hope, action and change in the mind of each and every psoriasis patient in the world.
Some facts about psoriasis
So far it is proven that psoriasis is not infectious or contagious.
There are some dietary restriction to red meat, citrus food, too much spicy and oily food, tobacco, smoking and alcohol aggravate the disease.
It is a controllable disease but may relapse which when nobody knows. A patient may have psoriasis free life even 30 years without treatment.
Psoriasis is a disease that is easy to diagnose but difficult to treat. There is no complete cure but there are quite a number of modalities of treatment to control the disease process.
Psychological advice
Psychological condition of the patients is an important factor in the treatment of psoriasis. Worry, tension, emotional upsets and stress may exacerbate it.
The importance of treating not only the skin but the whole patient has been stressed. Supportive group therapy may be beneficial.
Secondary depression is a common problem in these patients, but one should be cautious in using antidepressants and other related drugs because sometimes they may worsen not only the skin disease but the emotional problems too.
Meditation is a good approach for controlling psoriasis as the disease is aggravated by mental stress. So, relaxation due to meditation is helpful to prevent relapse of the disease.
A hopeful message for psoriasis patients in Bangladesh is one of the multinational company is about to bring the latest biologics drug to the country.
The writer is a Professor of Dermatology and Principal of M H Samorita Hospital & Medical College.
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