English: IFPA presents World Psoriasis Day as an annual day dedicated to people with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis. It has been celebrated on October 29 for more than a decade. On World Psoriasis Day, our member associations and their supporters organise activities around the world to raise awareness of psoriasis.

The theme for 2018 is PsoSerious- visit here for more details.

Looking for our postcard? Download it here and send it out in your community!

Aim of World Psoriasis Day World Psoriasis Day is dedicated to people living with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. On October 29, we aim to address their needs:

Raise awareness Psoriasis affects over 125 million people around the world – not just physically, but also socially, emotionally and financially. World Psoriasis Day aims to raise the profile of this debilitating disease and increase awareness of the effect it has on people’s lives. Spread information For many, psoriasis is still a relatively unknown disease. On World Psoriasis Day, we spread information about psoriasis, dispel common myths and answer questions. We also inform patients about their own condition, so they can feel empowered to speak about it. Improve access to treatment On World Psoriasis Day, we lobby to give people with psoriasis better access to appropriate, affordable treatment. That’s why we specifically address key health decision-makers like national governments, policy-makers and healthcare providers that day. Give the psoriasis community a voice: Many people living with psoriasis may struggle to get the world to listen to their needs. World Psoriasis Day is an opportunity for the psoriasis community to speak out from a common platform – and have its voice heard. Are there special World Psoriasis Day activities? Yes! Each year, our member associations organise a wide variety of World Psoriasis Day activities – from small gatherings to large-scale events. Examples of activities include:

Awareness-raising walks or running events Free information events for the general public Lectures or seminars held by medical professionals Handing out flyers and brochures in public places Drawing competitions Sending out WPD postcards Free psoriasis assessment and consultations at hospitals Activities for children and youth Photo exhibitions with psoriasis-related themes Radio or TV interviews with patient leaders or medical experts Fundraising barbecues, get-togethers or concerts Outdoor yoga sessions for people with psoriasis Coverage of World Psoriasis Day by local or national media Can I join World Psoriasis Day? Of course! World Psoriasis Day is open to anyone – whether you have psoriasis yourself, know someone who does or simply want to support people living with psoriasis.

To be part of World Psoriasis Day, you can:

Contact your national psoriasis association to find out about their plans for October 29. Organise an activity yourself. Perhaps your national association isn’t planning anything or you live in a country without an active psoriasis association? Don’t let this stop you! Organising a workshop, an awareness-raising walk, or simply handing out flyers can be a great way to let your community know about World Psoriasis Day.If you organise something, we’d love to hear about it! That way, we can help promote your activity and share some pictures afterwards for our global audience. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest updates on IFPA’s World Psoriasis Day campaigns and plans. Spread the word about World Psoriasis Day, wear orange and blue on October 29, or reach out to someone from the psoriasis community to let them know you are there for them.

Who organises World Psoriasis Day? World Psoriasis Day is presented by IFPA. Our member associations are the ones organising specific activities in their countries. As a coordinating actor, IFPA sets the annual theme for World Psoriasis Day and creates campaign material.

How did it all start? The idea of having an annual psoriasis day has been around for a long time. In 2004, several psoriasis patient associations got together, created a Steering Committee and made World Psoriasis Day a reality. Their dedication and enthusiasm ensured that the first World Psoriasis Day was a resounding success. Today, World Psoriasis Day is observed in over 50 countries worldwide.

Where can I get information about past editions of World Psoriasis Day?

After each edition of World Psoriasis Day, we compile a report about our members’ activities on and around October 29. Feel free to contact us at info@ifpa-pso.com for more information on activities organised in your country or region.