Today is World Psoriasis Day, an important annual event in the health calendar as this skin condition affects an estimated 125 million people globally.
It is described by the Irish Skin Foundation as a chronic inflammatory skin disease and over 100,000 people in Ireland suffer from it.
For those who know nothing about this skin condition, psoriasis has no known cause, at the moment there is no known cure and it is not contagious.
Common areas affected include the elbows, knees and scalp where itchy dry red patches tend to form.
Every individual is different, and psoriasis can range from mildly dry skin to painful patches of flaky itchy skin.
Although there is no known cure, there are a number of treatments available including topical and oral medications.
Other options include biologic medicines, which are made from human or animal proteins, and photo therapy, where the affected areas of skin are exposed to UVA/UVB lights.
Some studies have shown that genes can contribute to the likelihood of an individual developing this condition and a family history is of use when making a diagnosis.
To mark World Psoriasis Day, the Irish Skin Foundation have launched a #SaySomething campaign, encouraging sufferers to talk about this condition.
Check out their video below and you can find out more information here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HUA47KRXNs
