Psoriasis: "Please touch!"

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.

Psoriasis is not contagious. Even so, people instinctively react with rejection at the sight of them. The “Please touch!” Initiative aims to change that.

In a bikini in the swimming pool? Forget it! What is natural for her friends was unthinkable for Lara, 22, for years. There were red, itchy marks on her skin, covered with trickling, silvery scales. Sometimes more sometimes less. “At times they were just everywhere,” says the budding librarian. She has suffered from psoriasis, also known as psoriasis, since she was twelve.

Lara hid the stains as best she could: under long sleeves and a pony that covered the scales at the hairline. She didn't want to be stared at like a leper.

Instinctive defense

"People instinctively reject skin symptoms," confirms Dr. Ralph von Kiedrowski, resident dermatologist in Selters. This is deeply rooted in evolution: a reddening of the skin is an alarm signal that someone could be contagious. With the emphasis on "could".

Because psoriasis is an autoimmune disease. The body's own defense system rebels and rages on the body shell. There it provokes inflammatory reactions like after an injury: the skin cells begin to divide rapidly, at such a rapid rate that a firm cell structure can no longer form. The cells on the surface die quickly. This is how the scales come about.

Throwing out of the swimming pool

"People with psoriasis are often stigmatized: They are expelled from the swimming pool, they have to bring certificates that they are not contagious, or hotels demand special surcharges from them for the more complex cleaning due to the dander."

Only one thing can help against exclusion: education. Kiedrowski and other experts from the Professional Association of German Dermatologists e. V. launched the campaign: "Please touch - actively combating psoriasis together".

Care instead of exclusion

The motto works in several directions. It is supposed to show that "nothing will happen to you if you touch someone with psoriasis". It also focuses on why touch is so important for people - including those with skin diseases. And it encourages you to be moved inside, to develop more empathy for those affected.

Openness wins

Lara has had good experiences with dealing openly with her illness. “At first I was worried, but my friends all reacted great.” She has no problem dealing with people who know.

Lara believes that whether you dare to be so open in contact with strangers on the train, in the supermarket line, in the fitness studio is a matter of type. “Before, I wouldn't have dared to do it.” In the meantime, looks are hardly an issue for her. Anyway: since she started taking a new drug, her skin is much better than it used to be.

New active ingredients

Your remedy contains an active ingredient from the newer generation of psoriasis drugs: ustekinumab is a so-called monoclonal antibody. It blocks certain messenger substances in the body that heat up the inflammatory processes in psoriasis. Lara injects it herself regularly.

That, too, is a concern of the campaign: that patients with severe psoriasis receive the right medication. "If the basic therapy is not sufficient, the patient should consult a doctor who specializes in it," says the dermatologist. Because in the meantime there are a multitude of modern psoriasis remedies that one should be familiar with.

More than 20,000 euros in drug costs per year

In addition, the new drugs are very expensive. The therapy costs more than 20,000 euros per year and patient. Some doctors shy away from prescribing them because they fear recourse claims by the health insurance companies.

More serene through the disease

Today Lara is at peace with herself - she can even take positive things out of the disease: “I am more relaxed than others,” she says. She is often surprised when friends and colleagues get upset about little things. Thanks to her experience with the disease, she has gained a different perspective on people.

She even goes swimming again: “Swimming again for the first time in years! This feeling of gliding through the water was just unbelievably wonderful! "

You can find more about the "Please touch" campaign at www.bitte-beruehren.de.

Tags:  drugs travel medicine dental care