National Psoriasis Foundation holds congressional briefing on skin of color and psoriasis

The National Psoriasis Foundation recently held a congressional briefing to focus on African-Americans, Asians, Latinos and other non-Caucasians with psoriasis and the challenges they face, according to a press release.

Panelists included Amy McMichael, MD, chair of dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity, Paul Wallace, MD, a Beverly Hills, Calif., dermatologist in private practice, Jonathan Scott, a 9-year veteran of the NFL and a featured patient panelist at the briefing, and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas.

Amy McMichael

“I hope that by spreading awareness of psoriasis in people of color, I can help others in my community feel comfortable in their own skin,” Scott, who recently joined with the foundation’s Youth Ambassador Program for teens with psoriasis, stated in the release.

While psoriasis affects 7.5 million Americans; it is reported less frequently in non-Caucasian populations, the release reported. However, studies report that the non-Caucasian populations are more deeply affected by psoriasis than Caucasians on a physical and psychological level, according to the release.

“Though this congressional briefing and other skin of color efforts, we hope to shine a light on underserved populations in the psoriasis community,” Randy Beranek, president and CEO of the National Psoriasis Foundation, stated in the release. “These efforts will help us meet our goal of dramatically improving health outcomes for all people with psoriatic disease.”