Psoriasis Prevalence and Impact - Approximately 3% of the US population, translating to about 8 million people, experience psoriasis [4] - Psoriasis is a systemic condition associated with other conditions such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes [5] - 60% of psoriasis patients experience depression or anxiety [9] - Psoriasis patients are twice as likely to experience suicidal thoughts compared to people with chronic illnesses and the general population [10] - 10% of psoriasis patients demonstrated a desire to be dead in a survey [10] Factors Influencing Psoriasis - Genetics play a role, with a 10% chance of developing psoriasis if one parent has it, rising to 50% if both parents have it [6][7] - Stress is a significant environmental factor, with a case control study showing that 68% of psoriasis patients experienced a stressful incident before flare-ups [8] Social Perception and Stigma - Studies indicate that one in four people have never heard of psoriasis [14] - A study with 198 participants showed that 23% thought psoriasis was contagious, 342% did not want to shake hands, 454% did not want to eat food cooked by them, and 15% refused to sit next to them [15] Treatment and Management - Advanced treatments like biologics can help relieve psoriasis, but are often expensive [21][22] Societal Actions - Society can help by educating themselves, advocating for affordable healthcare, and practicing kindness [21][22][23]