Every year on the 29th of October, we come together and take time to recognize those who suffer from Psoriasis, as well as psoriatic arthritis. Below are ways in which you can join us in learning about psoriasis and ways we can observe World Psoriasis Day.
What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a skin disease that speeds up the growth cycle of skin cells.
What are causes of Psoriasis? And how is it treated?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, meaning that part of the body’s own immune system becomes overactive and attacks normal tissues in the body. Treatment methods range from applying ointments and creams on effected areas to the use of ultraviolet light therapy to drugs like methotrexate. The treatment of psoriatic arthritis often involves the use of methotrexate.
Tips for children with Psoriasis:
- Prevent infections by washing hands, maintaining personal hygiene, and staying away from people who are sick. Flare-ups often occur following illness.
- Manage stress through exercise. Kids can practice meditation and yoga too!
- Avoid certain medications, such as lithium.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Overweight individuals tend to have more psoriasis symptoms.
- Avoiding cold weather can help reduce the occurrences or severity of psoriasis outbreaks.
How to observe World Psoriasis Day
Educating one’s self and committing to avoid the risk factors of psoriasis is a great way to observe the day, as well as influence those around you to do the same. We can all also reach out to anyone with psoriasis and let them know we are thinking of them, share encouraging stories about people with psoriasis and how their experiences, and spread awareness via the many available communicative platforms available to us today.
Sources:
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/psoriasis.html#:~:text=Treatments%20can%20include%3A,salicylic%20acid%20or%20coal%20tar
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/world-psoriasis-day-october-29/
https://www.cdc.gov/psoriasis/index.htm#:~:text=Psoriasis%20causes%20patches%20of%20thick,psoriasis%20is%20called%20plaque%20psoriasis.
