National Psoriasis Foundation Teams Up With Olympic Medal Winner and American Record Holder, Swimmer Dara Torres, to Raise Awareness About Psoriasis

    PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 25 /
EMWNews
/ -- The National

Psoriasis Foundation announced today the launch of a national public

service announcement (PSA) for psoriasis featuring 2008 Olympic silver

medalist and American record holder Dara Torres, a professional swimmer who

has lived with psoriasis for nearly 20 years. Torres is the first Olympic

athlete to speak out about psoriasis, a disease that affects as many as 7.5

million Americans.



    Torres worked with the Psoriasis Foundation to produce the PSA to raise

awareness that psoriasis is a serious disease of the immune system and not

just a cosmetic condition. Torres and the Foundation want to encourage

those living with this chronic disease to seek support, information and

proper treatment to effectively manage their psoriasis.



    "We commend Ms. Torres for speaking out about her own experience with

psoriasis in an effort to educate and inspire others to seek appropriate

diagnosis and treatment," said Randy Beranek, president and CEO of the

National Psoriasis Foundation. "Psoriasis is deeply misunderstood, and it's

time people learn about the dramatic impact of this disease on the lives of

those affected."



    "Ms. Torres has created a legacy in the pool -- a place where many

children and adults with psoriasis experience discrimination because others

fear the disease is contagious," Beranek continued. "We are proud to have

the support of this tremendous athlete in raising awareness about

psoriasis."







    With her recent participation in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing,

Torres, 41, has won medals in five Olympic Games, making her the first U.S.

swimmer to compete in that many Olympic competitions and the oldest female

Olympic swimmer on record. In addition to her 12 lifetime Olympic medals,

Torres set several American and world records, and is a 15-time U.S.

national champion.



    "I am thrilled to have worked with the National Psoriasis Foundation in

creating a public service announcement that elevates the voice of psoriasis

patients everywhere," Torres said. "I live with psoriasis and have

experienced firsthand the difficulties of this disease. I've realized that

it's important not to let psoriasis control your life and I encourage

others with this condition to be their own champions in seeking education,

support and effective treatment."



    The National Psoriasis Foundation also recognizes Centocor Inc. for its

support in the development of the PSA and for its ongoing commitment to the

treatment of psoriasis. For more information and to view the PSA, visit

http://www.psoriasis.org.

    About Psoriasis



    Psoriasis is a noncontagious, genetic disease that results when faulty

signals in the immune system prompt skin cells to regenerate too quickly,

causing red, scaly lesions that can crack and bleed. It often affects the

elbows, knees, scalp and torso but can appear anywhere on the body. As many

as 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis, according to the National

Institutes of Health. Ten percent to 30 percent of people with psoriasis

also develop psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory disease which causes

pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints. Psoriasis can affect

anyone at any age, including children. There is no cure yet for this

lifelong disease.



    About the National Psoriasis Foundation



    The National Psoriasis Foundation is the leading patient-driven,

nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for

millions of Americans with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis, and their

families. We focus on education, advocacy and research toward better

treatments and a cure. For more information, please call the Psoriasis

Foundation, headquartered in Portland, Ore., at 800.723.9166, or visit

http://www.psoriasis.org.