IFAP is calling for recognition of the strong link between psoriasis and mental health – and action to prevent its devastating knock-on effects.
STOCKHOLM, October 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Every year on October 29, the global community celebrates World Psoriasis Day, raising awareness and expressing solidarity with the more than 60 million people living with psoriatic disease worldwide. This year, IFPA (the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations) is launching a global “Stop the Domino Effect” campaign.
IFPA’s Stop the Domino Effect initiative urges policymakers, health professionals and the public to recognize psoriasis for what it is: a serious, systemic, life-changing disease that sets off a chain reaction of serious health problems, from diabetes to cardiovascular disease to depression. The campaign highlights the urgent need for integrated care, early intervention and equal access to treatment worldwide. The organization is calling on health authorities to include psoriasis in national NCD strategies and ensure that patients receive care that addresses both physical and mental health.
Psoriasis is not “just a skin disease” as has long been misunderstood. It is a lifelong immune-mediated disease that affects the entire body. The body’s immune system triggers an overproduction of skin cells, leading to painful, inflamed, and itchy patches. But the damage goes much deeper than the surface.
Recent research shows that psoriasis is closely linked to other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. One in three people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis, a painful inflammatory joint disease that can lead to permanent damage and disability.
The burden extends to mental health. People with psoriasis are twice as likely to experience serious psychological distress, with a 109% higher risk of developing mental health disorders than the general population. One in ten people live with diagnosed depression, while almost half report being severely anxious. Stigma is pervasive: four in five people say they have been discriminated against because of their illness, and one in three have had to forgo educational or career opportunities as a result.
- “We need to stop the domino effect of psoriasis – and we need to do it now.“, says **Frida Dunger, Executive Director of IFPA. “*It is time to recognize that psoriasism seriously affects every aspect of a person’s life and is closely linked to mental health. It’s also time to better understand that psoriasis is just a skin disease. If we treat psoriasis early, with the best possible treatment and holistically, we can prevent a cascade of other serious illnesses. Policymakers and healthcare providers must act urgently and listen to people living with this disease. Ending the domino effect of psoriasis can help radically improve the lives of many people and save them from avoidable suffering, – *Frida added.
On this World Psoriasis Day, IFPA reminds the world: it’s time to stop the domino effect.
Learn more about this year’s campaign:
https://www.ifpa-pso.com/global-actions-overview/world-psoriasis-day
About IFAP
IFPA (International Federation of Psoriasis Associations), founded in 1971 and based in Stockholm, Sweden, is the global organization dedicated to advocating on behalf of all people affected by psoriasis. IFPA members include national and regional patient associations and represent more than 60 million people worldwide. Through global coalitions, World Psoriasis Day campaigns, the IFPA Forum and the World Conference on Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis, IFPA is redefining psoriatic disease as a key focus for stronger, more inclusive health systems. Learn more: https://www.ifpa-pso.com/
SOURCE IFPA
