Eczema and Psoriasis Coming out of the Closet

By Martin A. David martin.david@hqpublications.com Pharmavita Columnist November 22, 2004

Psoriasis suffers unite! Well, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA) is on your side. In fact, they recently sponsored World Psoriasis Day as part of an effort to seek increased understanding, support and overall awareness for the plight of psoriasis sufferers everywhere.

The IPFA is one of the organizations whose mission is spreading information about psoriasis and eczema. Dermatologists and other eczema and psoriasis specialists from around the world participated in the event.

Experts pointed out news of new and more effective psoriasis treatments and even the eventual possibility of a psoriasis cure. The bad news was their conclusion that psoriasis and eczema sufferers are still treated as outcasts by non-sufferers.

Discrimination In Our Midst? Eczema and Psoriasis Fears

A five-country survey conducted by the IFPA indicated that about half of the non-sufferers polled said they felt uncomfortable in the presence of people with the hand rashes, raw, itchy skin, eczema face rashes, and other typical eczema or psoriasis symptoms. They said they did not like to touch people with these symptoms or eat meals prepared by them.

Most of those interviewed said they knew eczema, psoriasis and other forms of atopic dermatitis were not contagious, but they still would rather not have contact with people who suffered from this disease.

Of course, the overall message to come out of World Psoriasis Day was one of great hope and optimism. The expanded knowledge of the various forms of dermatitis along with the increasing number of psoriasis and eczema medications and great advances in psoriasis treatment and eczema treatment all provide hopefulness to the millions of sufferers.

About the Author
Martin A. David consults as a Senior Technical Writer for a number of Silicon Valley firms. He is also a translator, specializing in Danish, French and Spanish literary works. He has written numerous feature articles for publications including the Los Angeles Times. He has also published a novel, and a non-fiction book in the area of dance. Martin earned his B.A. in Liberal Arts from Brooklyn College in his native New York. He currently chairs the Santa Clara Cultural Advisory Commission in Santa Clara, California.