Psoriasis is one of the most debilitating auto-immune skin conditions, affecting more than 125 million people around the world. It is not just a “skin problem” but a chronic disease that can lead to psychosocial disorders, comorbidities, and other inflammatory conditions such as psoriatic arthritis which can be life-threatening.
In Malaysia, an estimated 800,000 patients with psoriasis still struggle in silence, faced with challenges in diagnosis and treatment, access to care and social stigma.
To shed light on psoriasis and how this disease is impacting Malaysians, we caught up with Dr K. Thiruchelvam, Deputy President, Psoriasis Association of Malaysia. During the conversation, Dr Thiru spoke about the causes of psoriasis, symptoms to watch out for, including treatment options available.
He also touched on the association’s role in creating awareness of psoriasis as well as how the organization is empowering patients and caregivers with the tools to cope with and manage the disease.
