Blokes going below the surface on World Psoriasis Day
It’s a medical condition that rarely surfaces in the public domain, but on World Psoriasis Day, October 29, an important video has been released supporting men with the condition.
The video features Psoriasis Australia CEO Murray Turner alongside Russell, a patient ambassador in the new Get Psorted awareness campaign.
The two men are filmed having an online chat about living with psoriasis and how it impacts their lives.
“Having the flaky skin was one of the key challenges,” says Murray, who delayed getting treatment for the condition for three or four years. “I wish I’d gone a helluva lot sooner.”
“You have to be conscious of what colour clothing you have on, what color bed sheets you have on.
“The mental health state was rather significant. You don’t realise the depth of despair you get into when you are just going through regular treatment.”
“There’s no known cure, so I will have to deal with this for the rest of my life,” says Russell.
“It’s a reminder every day that you’ve got psoriasis whenever you put topical lotions on.”
The campaign includes a new https://www.getpsorted.com.au/ website, which lays out current treatments and advice for people living with psoriasis.
An estimated 1.6 million people in Australia have psoriasis, says Turner.
“Don’t hide from it and let your friends know what it is. That you are okay, and it is something that appears on the skin but deep down it’s a lot more than that but it’s not contagious,” he says.