MANILA, Philippines—Psoriasis is not contagious, stresses Dr. Anna Gracia Garcia, a dermatologist at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center and an active member of psoriasis support group Psorphil.

Garcia certainly knows what she is talking about, not only by virtue of her being a doctor, but also because she, herself, was diagnosed two years ago to have psoriasis, a skin condition characterized by red scaly patches of thickened skin and scalp.

Dry, red patches

In an interview with the Inquirer, Garcia explains that psoriasis happens when skin cells are stimulated to multiply in large numbers rapidly, resulting in dry, red skin patches.

These patches primarily affect the scalp before other body parts such as the knees, elbow and lower back. In her case, Garcia relates that the “first patches appeared on my elbows and scalp.”

Conditions may also range from mild, that people may not even know they have it, to severe, wherein psoriasis virtually covers the entire body.

Genetic makeup, other factors

Though the exact cause of psoriasis remains unknown, genetic makeup is one of the factors being considered. According to Garcia, a child has a 10 percent chance of acquiring psoriasis if only one parent has it. The possibility of acquiring the disease, however, increases to 25 percent if both parents have it.

Other factors could also trigger a psoriasis attack, such as stress, infection (any form but the most common is sore throat), skin trauma and skin abrasions, she adds.

“There are periodic ups and downs but no one knows when it will actually manifest. Sometimes psoriasis may clear for years and stay in remission. While there is no known cure for psoriasis, there are different treatments available to control it but these are quite costly,” Garcia says.

Lifetime disease

She further explains that psoriasis is considered a long-term skin condition or a lifetime disease.

“Psoriasis can be seen in people of any race, gender and age but there are two peaks of occurrence—at an early age of 20-30 years and at 50-60 years,” she notes.

Garcia discloses that in the Philippines there are about 170 million individuals with psoriasis but most of them are in hiding, especially if the disease is active, because of shame and emotional distress.

“For a country like ours that values good skin—most visible in commercials and the different treatments for skin including whitening lotions—having psoriasis can be emotionally, physically, psychologically and financially draining,” she says.

Garcia admits that she, too, was in denial at first and had to consult a colleague to confirm for her that she, indeed, has psoriasis.

As a dermatologist, the news didn’t come easy for her. “It was more that just devastating that I said to myself how ironic that someone like me, a dermatologist could have psoriasis,” Garcia relates.

She likewise feared losing her job. “I said to myself, how will I entertain my patients if I have this condition, they may not want to consult a dermatologist who has psoriasis.”

Chance to educate people

Garcia relates that she felt the need to discuss it with her husband and her children, who may have a slim chance of acquiring it. Talking to her family—including her siblings—about her condition served as an awakening for her.

“Instead of looking at the disease as a burden, I took it as a chance to educate people, like my family. They should also be aware of it because it’s probably in their genes and they might have it in the future,” she explains.

“It’s because of these diseases that you get the opportunity to meet people with the same condition and learn to draw strength from each other,” Dr. Garcia says.

“Psoriasis is just a skin disease and it doesn’t make one less of a person. It only affects your skin and there are many people out there who have the same condition as you,” she assures the public.

She also encourages people with psoriasis “to not be ashamed to come out—it’s best that people with psoriasis see a doctor so they can get the necessary treatment.”

Right now, Garcia says she is just happy to see various support groups for people with psoriasis, particularly in Asian Hospital and Medical Center, UST Hospital and Makati Medical Center.

There are also private support groups such as Psorphil according to Dr. Garcia. “These groups help bring back the social life of people with psoriasis to normal and help them regain their confidence.”