PERSONS having psoriasis should not be discriminated.

Dr. Faith Kishi-Generao, visiting consultant for internal medicine of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, said patients having such disease is considered persons with disability (PWD).

"The disease has no cure but it is not infectious. Psoriasis is prevalent from 30 and above but even babies would have it as well. My youngest patients are aged 7 and 10 years," Generao said.

"Patients with psoriasis would have different triggers and the problem with this disease is that the skin undergoes various changes because it over drives. Others, especially the young, would be triggered by sore throat. Give it a month or two and psoriasis would show, while others who experience stress, which trigger psoriasis. Others who have been hospitalized for two or three days and after a month or two, psoriasis would show," she said.

Psoriasis is a hereditary condition characterized by changing of the skin's scale. Experts said if both parents have the disease, there is a 40 percent chance for the offspring to also acquire it.

Genarao said that for any population in the world, the occurrence of psoriasis is from one to two percent, which is not really bad. But people with psoriasis have been experiencing discrimination, which violates Republic Act 1921 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability.

"We started the campaign five years ago and patients having psoriasis were included. I think two years ago, which is why they are part of the PWDs," Generao added.

Generao recommended blood testing to know whether the disease is present in the person's genes.