Psoriasis Over 2 million Germans suffer from psoriasis

Chronic skin and joint disease Psoriasis: Two million Germans are ill

Around two million Germans suffer from psoriasis. Worldwide, about 125 million people are affected. The non-contagious disease is incurable and does not just affect the skin. On the 29th of October, the World Psoriasis Day, attention should be drawn to the disease and treatment options.

About two million Germans are suffering from psoriasis

In Germany, around two million people suffer from psoriasis. Globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 125 million people are affected, in all age groups. The World Psoriasis Day on October 29 will draw attention to the disease and treatment options.

Around two million Germans suffer from psoriasis. Worldwide, about 125 million people are affected. The World Psoriasis Day on October 29 is intended to draw attention to the disease. (Image: hriana / fotolia.com)

Not just a skin disease

"Psoriasis is one of the chronic inflammatory diseases of the whole body and is not a skin disease alone, but a disease" with many faces and influencing factors, "according to a statement of the Medical Faculty of the University Hospital Magdeburg.

"The joints can also be affected," the experts continue.

Often it is initially only dry skin on which later red spots form. These become thicker over time and lift off the skin surface. Finally, they begin to shed silvery white.

Frequently, first skin lesions on elbows, knees, behind the ears or on the navel are affected. Or also places in the buttocks column, which leads to unpleasant Afterjucken.

Finally, an itchy rash on the whole body is felt.

Increased risk of further diseases

But psoriasis is more than a skin disease. According to health experts, every fifth patient also suffers from joint problems such as swelling of the toes, fingers, knees or spine.

Patients with severe psoriasis also have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure or diabetes or suffering a heart attack or stroke.

In addition, sufferers also suffer from stigmatization and exclusion.

"Ignorance and prejudice about the disease are still widespread in the population. Many people still believe that psoriasis is contagious, "wrote the German Psoriasis Association (DPB) in a recent Communication on World Psoriasis Day 2017, which this year's motto is" show skin ".

According to DPB, almost all sufferers have already experienced discrimination and humiliation in everyday life: "They are stared in horror and covered with derogatory remarks. They are refused to shake hands and they do not want to eat together with them at a table, "explain the experts.

Also, because of these experiences, many people with psoriasis suffer from depressive disorders or other mental illnesses. There is an urgent need for action.

Treatment of psoriasis

Creams and ointments are often used to treat psoriasis. The light therapy is another treatment option. The patient is irradiated with short-wave UV-B light.

However, this method was suitable only for a temporary treatment of psoriasis. In addition, the patient must come to the doctor for every treatment.

In natural medicine, there are other treatments for psoriasis that cause little or no side effects.

In addition to bath therapies with sulfur-containing natural mud and volcanic water or salt from the Dead Sea, the natural urine therapy should also be mentioned here.

In addition, methods of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), homeopathy, nutritional therapies and acupuncture can help many sufferers.

Financial burden

According to the DPB, there is a major problem in Germany in accessing the therapies needed to treat psoriasis.

"Whether people with psoriasis receive the necessary - guideline-appropriate - therapies, also depends heavily on their place of residence and the supplying physicians," write the experts.

This also has to do with the fact that "the therapeutic options for the treatment of psoriasis that are appropriate to the guidelines are obviously not yet known to all physicians".

The undersupply of people with psoriasis in Germany is "home-made".

In addition, sufferers are heavily burdened financially, as creams, ointments and shampoos, which are needed for the basic care of the skin, cause high costs and be borne by the sufferers themselves. (Ad)