A day for Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis awareness and family support

Each year, the global community unites on October 29th to raise awareness and call for action in support of people living with psoriatic disease. World Psoriasis Day has been celebrated since 2004, organized by the International Federation of Psoriatic Disease Associations (IFPA), and is observed in over 70 countries.

This year’s focus emphasizes the importance of family involvement in the journey of living with psoriatic disease. It aims to highlight the emotional and practical challenges that affect not only patients but also their families. By providing comprehensive resources (including the report Inside Psoriatic Disease: Family) the initiative seeks to foster discussions about the impact of psoriatic disease on family dynamics, financial stability, and social interactions. This year’s goal is to equip families with the knowledge and tools necessary to support their loved ones effectively. The 2024 social media campaign will include the hashtag #psoriaticdiseaseandfamily.

Psoriatic disease is a systemic condition affecting multiple body sites. It is a chronic, noncommunicable, painful, disfiguring, and disabling disease for which there is no cure. It includes psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, two of the six immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) addressed by the DocTIS project. The aim of DocTIS is to improve treatment efficacy by identifying new combinations of existing drugs that enhance each other’s effects.

On the IFPA website for Wold Psoriasis Day, many events planned in various countries can be found, though not all countries may have events listed. Be sure to check the agenda for your country!