Psoriasis is a skin disease affecting around 300.000 to 400.000 Belgians.1 The condition affects some 125 million people worldwide. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammation of the skin in which the affected skin cells replicate faster than those in healthy skin. This results in thick red, and often scaly patches. Psoriasis is not contagious, but there is no cure for it either. The symptoms, however, are treatable.
Psoriasis has a grave impact on the life of patients. To create more awareness of this - quite common - affection, we created the APSOLUTELY magazine, filled with interviews and stories. Different patients share their experience. Furthermore, Professor Jo Lambert and nurse Elfie Deprez from the University Hospital Ghent recount their experience as caregivers. The APSOLUTELY magazine is readily available in digital format, both in Dutch and French:
More than just skin
Psoriasis goes further than the skin alone. In some cases, psoriasis can lead to nail deformities and joint problems. Certain diseases, such as diabetes, overweight and Crohn’s disease (inflammatory bowel disease), have also been shown to occur more frequently in patients with psoriasis.2 The cause of psoriasis is not entirely clear, but a great deal of research is being done to solve this puzzle.
Furthermore, the disorder can have a negative impact on the quality of life of the patients, resulting in emotional and psychological symptoms.1 Because of existing misconceptions about the skin disease, psoriasis can play a role in social intercourse. Patients are advised to get to know as much as possible about the illness so that it becomes easier to talk about it and to find the best care. That’s why the new APSOLUTELY magazine gathers a lot of information and testimonies to encourage this conversation.
