(IFPA)

• The 17th annual World Psoriasis Day will be celebrated internationally on Friday, Oct. 29.
• The theme of this year’s World Psoriasis Day is “United.”
• The International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA) has created a petition in support of eliminating stigma and helping those with psoriasis gain better access to treatment.

The global psoriasis community will celebrate the 17th annual World Psoriasis Day on Oct. 29. First established in 2004 by those living with psoriasis, World Psoriasis Day aims to raise awareness and advocate for action to support people living with psoriatic disease.

United To Support People With Psoriatic Disease

This year’s theme for World Psoriasis Day is “United.” IFPA is calling on individuals, health care experts, advocates, organizations, and companies across the globe to unite in support of those with psoriasis. In particular, IFPA demands worldwide action to fulfill the United Nations’ (U.N.) promise to improve the lives of those living with psoriatic disease.

In 2014, all U.N. member states adopted World Health Assembly resolution WHA67.9. The resolution recognized psoriasis as “a serious noncommunicable disease” and acknowledged that many individuals with psoriatic disease face barriers to wellness like delayed or inaccurate diagnosis, limited access to care and treatment options, and social stigma. Recommendations for achieving these goals were published in 2016 in the World Health Organization Global Report on Psoriasis.

“More than five years after these community milestones, much is left to be done,” IFPA states on its website. “For World Psoriasis Day 2021, the psoriatic disease community unites to demand action.” IFPA has created a petition titled “United — Now Act” with five demands for the global health community:

• Change the perception of psoriatic disease.
• Ensure equal access to medicines.
• Stop stigma.
• Advance holistic care.
• Prepare the health workforce.

The petition highlights concerning statistics about the state of psoriasis stigma and treatment:

• As many as 4 in 5 people with psoriasis have experienced discrimination or social stigma.
• Approximately 43 percent of people with psoriatic disease have experienced worsening psoriatic symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Thirty of the 54 countries in Africa do not have a university medical training program in dermatology.

Join the Conversation Online

IFPA has also suggested other ways to get involved this World Psoriasis Day. You can share your own story with psoriatic disease — via video, text post, or a conversation on social media — using the hashtag #worldpsoriasisday. The National Psoriasis Foundation has also compiled resources for those looking to get involved.

You can learn more about World Psoriasis Day and the IFPA petition on the IFPA website.