Janssen Korea, the domestic subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical division (CEO Christian Rodseth), released two infographics on October 29 to commemorate World Psoriasis Day, providing information on severe psoriasis and palmoplantar pustulosis.

These infographics were created to raise awareness about severe psoriasis and palmoplantar pustulosis and to highlight the importance of accurate diagnosis and management.

The first infographic, "Understanding Severe Psoriasis," includes △the definition of psoriasis △evaluation methods △association with major comorbidities △treatment methods △explanation of specialized medical terms. Given that the theme of this year's World Psoriasis Day campaign, hosted by the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA), is "Psoriatic Disease and Comorbidities," information related to representative comorbidities such as psoriatic arthritis is prominently included. It also emphasizes the importance of continuous treatment and management based on accurate diagnosis and guidance from healthcare professionals.

Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease caused by immune system abnormalities, which can accompany psychological stress, reduced social activity ability, and complications, in addition to skin lesions such as erythema and scales. Clinically, it is classified into plaque, pustular, and guttate psoriasis, and the severity of psoriasis is evaluated using PASI and BSA. It is estimated that there are about 1.5 million psoriasis patients in Korea, with 10-20% classified as having severe psoriasis. As the severity of the disease increases, the risk of comorbidities such as psoriatic arthritis, hypertension, and diabetes can rise, but appropriate treatment based on healthcare professionals' diagnosis can minimize skin symptoms and manage the risk of complications.

The second infographic, "Understanding Palmoplantar Pustulosis," is also centered on information such as △characteristics and symptoms of the disease △treatment and management methods. The infographic introduces comparison and differential elements with other skin diseases showing similar symptoms to aid in accurate understanding of the disease.

Palmoplantar pustulosis, affecting about 9,200 people in Korea (as of 2024), was officially designated as a "rare disease" by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in January this year and included in the national management target diseases. It is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by recurrent sterile pustules, erythema, and red and white scales on the palms and soles, causing significant discomfort in daily life due to pain, itching, and a burning sensation. As the symptoms are similar to other skin conditions such as 'dyshidrotic eczema,' accurate diagnosis by a dermatologist is crucial. Treatment involves topical therapies, phototherapy, oral systemic medications, and biologics, and combining these with lifestyle management such as smoking cessation and the use of moisturizing creams can enhance treatment efficacy.

The "Understanding Severe Psoriasis" and "Understanding Palmoplantar Pustulosis" infographics are accessible and downloadable by anyone through the official LinkedIn channel of Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical division in Korea.

Yoon Sung-hee, Executive Director of Janssen Korea's Autoimmune and Neuropsychiatry Division, stated, "We hope that the infographics created for this year's World Psoriasis Day will enhance understanding of psoriasis and palmoplantar pustulosis and serve as useful resources for both patients and healthcare providers. These infographics demonstrate Johnson & Johnson's commitment to improving the treatment environment and outcomes for these two diseases. Johnson & Johnson will continue to leverage over 25 years of global experience in immunology to address unmet needs in immune-mediated skin diseases and foster a patient-centered treatment environment."

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