Psoriasis is not contagious, so have no fear when meeting Psoriasis sufferers during New Year’s gatherings

03 February, 2016

Psoriasis is not contagious, so have no fear when meeting Psoriasis sufferers during New Year’s gatherings

What preparations do you need to do prior to attending family and friend gatherings during the New Year? Hsiao Chen pseudonym will first use concealer to touch up her face, and use cling wrap to cover her arms and legs. Since she is an intermediate/serious Psoriasis sufferer, these preparations can prevent the inflammation and scaling of that brings discomfort to the people around her, and allows her to enjoy socializing during the New Year.

Chairman Ke Yi-Mou of the Psoriasis Association, Taiwan, said that Psoriasis is characterized by chronic inflammation of the skin and an imbalanced auto-immune system. It is not contagious. Psoriasis patients are prone to having inflammatory plaques and silvery scaling, and because of this outward appearance, they are often subject to strange looks from others while they are in public, and have to endure tremendous psychological stress that few others are able to understand. According to research carried out by the Association, close to 70 percent of Psoriasis patients had to endure curious glances by friends and family during the Chinese New Year due to scale shedding. Overly-concerned of friends and relatives giving them advice, the problem of scale shedding that littered the house of friends and relatives, and even thoughts of visiting the hairdresser for a new CNY hairdo would be stressful and upsetting.

Ke Yi-Mou said that the inflammatory plaques and scaling of Psoriasis are often misunderstood and shunned by the public, and is easily mistaken for a contagious disease. Many patients are often harassed by friends and relatives who give them countless folk prescriptions and remedies. Visiting the hairdresser gives them psychological stress as well; if hairdressers are not well-informed of Psoriasis, it would create tension between the sufferer and hairdresser, and lead to frustration.

Chairman Ke said that there are close to a hundred thousand people suffering from Psoriasis in Taiwan, with a conservative estimate of at least one million members of the public who will meet and socialize with them over the New Year. He would like to exhort the public to gain a correct understanding of Psoriasis, and to give encouragement to people suffering from Psoriasis.