August is Psoriasis Month

Psoriasis isn’t contagious, but awareness is. Did you know that each August the National Psoriasis Foundation sponsors the Psoriasis Awareness Month to underscore the life-changing impact of the disease and the need to find a cure?

Psoriasis is the most common autoimmune disease in the United States affecting as many as 7.5 million Americans. Psoriasis occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells resulting in painful, red scaly patches on the body that can bleed and itch. The disorder is a chronic, reoccurring condition that can vary in severity from small, localized patches to complete body coverage. While not contagious, Psoriasis sufferers are impacted in public as nearly 70% of those afflicted say the disease makes them feel self conscious, embarrassed and helpless according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Unfortunately the cause of Psoriasis is not fully understood. Some believe there is a genetic component to its onset while other research has suggested environmental manifestations such as stress, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking as contributing factors.

Regrettably, Psoriasis is a lifelong condition without a cure. Various treatments can help control the symptoms, but it is impossible to predict who will develop extensive Psoriasis or those in whom the disease appears to vanish.

However, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation, the disease frequently occurs with a range of other health concerns including diabetes, hypertension, heart attacks and depression. Also, up to 30 percent of people with Psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, swelling and stiffness around the joints.

That’s why at Interim Healthcare, we take special care in checking for psoriasis among all of our patients in our in-home care programs. Unchecked and not properly managed psoriasis can cause tremendous pain and suffering, especially among the elderly.

For more information on psoriasis, please visit the National Psoriasis Foundation.