The National Psoriasis Foundation has proclaimed August as Psoriasis Awareness Month, aimed at raising disease awareness, and providing research and care for people with psoriasis. The autoimmune disease affects 7.5 million people in the U.S.
What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis causes the immune system to send faulty signals that result in painful red, scaly patches on the skin that bleed and itch. Psoriasis varies in severity and is not contagious. The disease can be inherited, but there is no way of predicting or preventing its inheritance.
Related Post: September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
What is it like living with Psoriasis?
Noelia Ferreyra, 28 had psoriasis since her early teens, and was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) at 25.
“When I was diagnosed with psoriasis and it started to spread, it stressed me out that I was going to have to deal with it for the rest of my life,” she said in an Everyday Health article.
The disease has affected Noelia’s life both medically and socially. She now realizes that if people don’t accept her for who she is, they’re not worth her time. Noelia joined an online social network with others suffering from PsA. Through the group, she has learned the importance of being her own advocate.
Related Post: It’s Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
“If something’s not working for you, you need to speak up,” she said. “Sometimes you have to say no, and it’s okay to say no.”
Read more here: Arthritis in Your Twenties: Noelia’s story.
Keep in mind that ClaimLinx can provide cost-savings prescription drug programs and solutions for people like Noelia with chronic conditions that require ongoing medication. Contact us for more information.