The problems generated by Psoriasis, those that are observable (such as the skin red scale like patches) and those that are not seen at first sight (such as psychological damage, the possible damage to joints as well as the economic sacrifices), were dealt with in the recent National Dermatology and Veneralogy Congress carried out in Madrid recently. Patients, represented by the 'Psoriasis Action' association accompanied by a group of specialists, took the stand in this symposium to analyze among others, from the costs of suffering psoriasis to the importance of psychological aid and the future of the new arsenal in biological treatments.

Psoriasis patients not only face a chronic and in some cases a highly incapacitating disease, but in addition they must periodically confront the economic expenses of shampoos, creams and other aesthetic cosmetic elements for the care of the skin that do not produce the cure of this disease. A complete 'kit' of cosmetic products can surpass a monthly bill of 100 euros which has to be covered by the patient and to which has to be added other derived expenses such as work absence or the visits and displacements to appointments with the dermatologist.

In addition to the pocket expenditures -which are almost always forgotten- and which these patients must confront during all their life, the president of 'Psoriasis Action', Juana Maria del Molino, notes that it is very important that the associations must serve as a vehicle, on the one hand, to help the patients and their families 'to assume a lifelong disease' and, on the other hand, to explain 'its consequences'. Economic sacrifices, but also 'physical and psychological', as are recognized by the president of Action Psoriasis and doctor Jose Manuel Hernanz, moderator of this colloquy and head of the Psoriasis Unit of the Hospital Gregorio Marañón in Madrid. 'This is a chronic pathology, whose physical injuries are very uncomfortable for the person. However, it is fundamental that the affected individual does not grant it more importance than it has', Dr. Hernanz commented. 'Nevertheless, it is certain - he adds- that certain life habits are modified whenever the individual wants to do sport or buy clothes -for example- from fear of showing the disease, thus, the necessity to provide psychological assistance to the person'.

Psoriasis is an inflammatory chronic skin disease -of genetic origin- and non-contagious. The average diagnose age is 30 years; the pathology is characterized by the presence of red-scale like plates in form of buds. It has an unpredictable course and it affects 2% of the population, of which between 15 and 20% suffer moderate to severe psoriasis.

Thanks to this information and to the work of associations such as Psoriasis Action, society little by little is taking conscience of the disease and the amount of people who are affected, and although these aspects are substantial, doctor Hernanz thinks that what is 'most important are the new frontiers that have been opened in the treatment of psoriasis'. 'The new arsenal of biological therapies which has allowed us to begin to deal with psoriasis in an effective form', he explained.