Psoriasis affects approximately 125 million people worldwide. As part of the 29 October World Psoriasis Day, the President of the National Psoriasis Association, who shared about psoriasis, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Gürer emphasized the importance of social awareness in psoriasis.
In psoriasis, which affects 2 to 3 percent of the world's population; In all countries, there is a prevalence of less than 1 percent of children, and a prevalence of adults ranging from 0,17 percent in East Asia to 2,5 percent in Western Europe. 29 October is recognized as World Psoriasis Day in order to raise public awareness about psoriasis all over the world.
Psoriasis should not be viewed as just a skin disease.
Sharing about psoriasis in terms of its effects on life, President of the National Psoriasis Association Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Gürer said, “Psoriasis is more than just a skin disease, it is a disease that concerns the whole organism, progresses with chronic inflammation and can severely reduce the quality of life. Psoriasis, which generally lasts for life, is characterized by sharply circumscribed lesions of varying sizes, most commonly on the knees, elbows, scalp, hands and feet, with psoriasis-colored scaling on a red background. Almost all patients complain of itching, burning, stinging and pain. In addition, 20 percent of the patients may develop inflammatory joint rheumatism, which can affect the hand and foot joints, knee, elbow and hip joints, and spinal bones; According to the data, the frequency of ischemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol metabolism disorder is also high in patients. While psoriasis manifests itself with reddening, thickening and psoriasis-colored dandruff of the upper layer of the skin; Lesions can become visible in many different ways. Although it can often be seen in a certain area, it can rarely spread to the whole skin and can be life-threatening by disrupting the general metabolism of the organism. used his statements.
Addressing psoriasis with statistical data, Gürer said, “The diagnosis of psoriasis can be made by an experienced physician with a clinical examination in most of the patients. In some atypical cases, special diagnostic methods, which we call the phenomenon, and pathological examination may be necessary for definitive diagnosis. Psoriasis is usually seen in people with a family history of psoriasis, that is, people with a genetic predisposition. In this way, it is seen at the same rate in men and women carrying certain types of tissue antigens, although it can start at any age, it mostly peaks between the ages of 20-35 and 50-60. In our country, although there is no comprehensive research on the incidence of psoriasis, its prevalence is considered to be around 1-1,5%. said.
Patient-doctor communication is important in the fight against psoriasis
Underlining that the treatment process in psoriasis should continue with strong patient-physician communication, President of the National Psoriasis Association Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Gürer said, “Some suggestions can be made to cope with the various problems that patients encounter in their lives and to increase their quality of life. Regular exercise, healthy diet, avoidance of smoking and alcohol, protection from stress factors, paying attention to sleep patterns can be listed as some of them. However, in order to cope with the negative psychological effects, one should not hesitate to talk about the illness, and the illness should not be allowed to rule the life. It is important for patients to stay away from false information and consult their physicians. In recent years, with the increase in our knowledge about the disease and new treatment options, the disease can be treated more effectively, controlled and long-term well-being periods can be provided. In the treatment of psoriasis, individualized treatment is mentioned; The physician should arrange treatment by taking into account the patient's age, gender, prevalence of the disease, concomitant diseases, psychosocial status and expectations of the patient.
Psoriasis is definitely not a contagious disease.
Underlining the importance of awareness in psoriasis, both patients and their relatives, as well as the general public, President of the National Psoriasis Association Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Gürer said, “The quality of life of psoriasis patients can be affected in many ways. In addition to the physical effects of the disease, various psychological difficulties can recur in the social lives of the patients. In addition, psoriasis patients can be ostracized by the people around them and even by their families in their daily and business lives, and they may experience stigma. In this context, it is very important to inform the society and raise awareness about psoriasis. First of all, one of the issues that definitely needs to be increased in the society is that psoriasis is not contagious in any way. It is very important to emphasize that it is not contagious, to inform the society, to talk to the patient's close circle if necessary, and to provide psychological support. Reaching the right treatment that the patient deserves on time helps to reach a happy, healthy life and increase work efficiency. Psoriasis is not destiny. Although it continues for life, it can be controlled with effective and appropriate treatment started on time. said.
Lilly Pharmaceuticals Medical Director, Dr. Levent Alev stated that it is of great importance for the society to have accurate information about psoriasis within the scope of 29 October Psoriasis Day and said, "As Lilly, we continue to work with our aim to improve life in different therapeutic areas, including the field of dermatology."
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