Did you know that psoriasis cannot be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact – or any other type of interaction?
August is Psoriasis Awareness Month, an annual event dedicated to highlighting the life-altering impact of psoriasis and dispelling the many myths surrounding it. Beyond the misperception that it may be contagious, another major misunderstanding is that psoriasis is “just a skin condition.” In fact, up 30% of people with this serious autoimmune disease will develop psoriatic arthritis, which can cause chronic pain and swelling in the joints.
Throughout 2012, PatientsLikeMe has been interviewing members who are blogging about life with psoriasis in order to shed light on this highly visible and often stigmatized disease, which affects as many as 7.5 million Americans and is the most common autoimmune condition in the US. How have they managed both the physical and emotional challenges? Check out our inspiring interviews with:
- Lissa of “Psoriasis Girl’s Point of View”
- Alisha of “Being Me in My Own Skin”
- Jessica of “Jessica and Psoriasis”
- Joni of “Just a Girl with Spots”
These four brave ladies are just the tip of the iceberg, however. 1,820 patients are sharing their experiences with psoriasis at PatientsLikeMe, while 730 patients are sharing about their psoriatic arthritis as well. Get to know our growing psoriasis community and stay tuned for more psoriasis coverage – including the results of our new psoriasis patient survey and a recap of our exhibition at the American Academy of Dermatology Summer Meeting.