From its origins in a tiny newspaper classified ad in 1966, the National Psoriasis Foundation has grown to be the largest psoriasis patient advocacy organization in the world.
Located in Portland, Ore., the Psoriasis Foundation is run by a dedicated staff and governed by a lay Board of Trustees, all of whom have had their lives impacted by psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
We are proud to be the voice for the millions of Americans affected by psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
What IS psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious.
There are five types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular and erythrodermic. The most common form, plaque psoriasis, appears as raised, red patches or lesions covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells, called scale. Psoriasis can occur on any part of the body and is associated with other serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression.
According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis.
To learn more about psoriasis, visit the National Psoriasis Foundation's website at https://www.psoriasis.org/
