Psoriasis sufferers throughout Donegal can attend FREE psoriasis information clinics in Donegal town and Letterkenny today.
Psoriasis is a non-contagious, chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects in excess of 100,000 people in Ireland and an estimated 4,400 people live in Donegal.
The first clinic takes place in Eske Pharmacy, Donegal town between 9.30am and 12.30pm.
Dermatology nurse Siobhan Murphy will provide one to one advice to patients on their psoriasis, management of their condition and compliance with treatments. Patients can drop in or make an appointment by calling 0749722033.
Siobhan hosts the second clinic in Boots Chemist, Unit 8, Retail Park, Letterkenny between 2pm and 5pm. Call 0749125631 for an appointment.
Choosing what clothes to wear and where to spend their leisure time can be a major problem for people, says Siobhan.
The condition means people are sometimes unable to wear short sleeve shirts or tops and uniforms can be a problem, as patients cannot hide their condition at work.
“The condition affects people on a daily basis in choosing what clothes to wear and where they spend their leisure time.
Some people are unable to wear short sleeve shirts or tops due to plaques on their arms and similar style uniforms can be problematic, as patients cannot hide their condition at work,” she says.
“Women have difficulty sourcing long sleeve dresses for summer weddings to cover their arms and although they do not want to wear cardigans on a hot day, they often have no alternative. They are also curtailed by the length of the dress they can buy, as they have to hide plaques on their legs. Some resort to wearing trousers. Other patients are unable to wear dark clothing as the skin scale is very noticeable on their shoulders and is often mistaken for dandruff.
Many are unable to go swimming to their local pool, as they fear a negative reaction from others to their condition,” says Siobhan.
The Psoriasis Association of Ireland urges people to visit their doctor rather than suffer in silence.
People For more details about psoriasis visit www.psoriasisireland.ie or www.mypsoriasis.ie of follow on facebook.com/psoriasisireland
Psoriasis factsheet:
• It is possible to manage psoriasis and even clear it
• Psoriasis can appear anywhere on the body. However, the most common sites of psoriasis are the scalp, elbows and knees
• Psoriasis usually appears as red, elevated plaques with silvery scales at various locations on the body
• Psoriasis can come and go at any time
• Psoriasis can occur at any age and both men and women are equally affected
• Psoriasis can be an inherited disorder but is not infectious or contagious
• Some people may develop psoriasis if other trigger factors are present such as throat infection, sunburn, stress, other medications and alcohol
• Safe sun exposure can help most people but for a small number of people it can worsen it
• A minority of people with psoriasis can develop a type of arthritis called Psoriatic Arthritis
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