Nationwide campaign aims to raise awareness of plaque psoriasis treatment options

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - August is National Psoriasis Awareness Month, and the Bristol Myers Squibb pharmaceutical company has kicked off the nationwide ‘So, Have You Found It?’ campaign to raise awareness of plaque psoriasis and the treatments that are available for it.

Around 2 million Americans are currently living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

“Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition driven by the immune system that results in thickening and red scaly areas on the skin classically involving the back of the scalp, the elbows and the knees, although it can really appear anywhere on the body. It typically involves an early onset in life in early adulthood but really can occur at any point in time resulting in those red scaly areas that can be itchy or sore or bleeding,” said Dr. James Libecco, a board-certified dermatologist practicing at Allied Dermatology and Skin Surgery in Northeastern, Ohio.

The ‘So, Have You Found it?’ campaign aims to empower those living with Plaque Psoriasis and connect them with the resources they need.

“It’s certainly that awareness and seeing the evolution of therapies that have occurred,” Libecco said. “Patients may have been burned out or felt like things didn’t work for them in the past. So, it’s knowing that we have treatment options but also how to have an effective conversation with your dermatologist regarding your treatment options.”

Libecco said this is very important as the treatment options for Plaque Psoriasis have grown significantly in recent years.

“Psoriasis therapies have really gone through a progression over the last 20 years or so where really it was all cream-based therapies before,” Libecco said. “Then, we progressed into injectable medications called biologics and you even have a once-daily pill you can take for your moderate and severe chronic plaque psoriasis called SOTYKTU.”

The ‘So, Have You Found It?’ campaign aims to connect people with treatment options but also empower them and help them lead fulfilling lives.

“When I was diagnosed many years ago, I felt so alone. I felt like I was the only person who had psoriasis and that just couldn’t be further from the truth — there are millions of us out there,” said Nitika Chopra, a patient advocate living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and the founder of Chronicon, an organization with a mission to elevate the visibility of those living with chronic illnesses.

The campaign’s website includes testimonials from psoriasis patients. The hope is that it will help patients self-advocate and live better lives.

“I think it creates a sense of confidence. I’ve seen the person I was when I was first diagnosed and how shy and self-conscious I was,” Chopra said. “Owning my story and owning what makes me uniquely me — it’s allowing us to take that into all different parts of our lives.”

Libecco said he wants plaque psoriasis patients to know they are not alone.

“There are resources available, and we as providers want to help tailor therapy for your needs to give you a life that doesn’t keep you from doing the things you want to do,” Libecco said. “We don’t want you embarrassed to go out, we want you to be able to wear the clothing or go to the gym that you want and do the things that you want to do. Coming in here prepared for visits really helps us do that.

You can learn more about the ‘So, Have You Found It?’ campaign here.