50,000 Voices. One Community.

Today, our Facebook Peer Support Group reached an incredible milestone: 50,000 members.

It's a figure we're humbled by, but also one that brings mixed emotions.

Because whilst we're proud of the community that has been built here, we recognise what this number represents. In a perfect world, there would be no need for a group like this. There would be no psoriasis, no psoriatic arthritis, no stigma, no barriers to care, and nobody searching for answers, support, or understanding because of their condition.

But whilst that world does not yet exist, something truly extraordinary has happened.

Since Psoriatic Disease UK was founded on 23 August 2024, tens of thousands of people from around the world have come together through our Facebook community to share experiences, seek advice, offer support, and help one another navigate the realities of living with psoriatic disease.

What began as a small support group has grown into one of the largest online peer support communities for people affected by psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

From the outset, we've chosen to remain a public group, whilst providing members with the option to post anonymously whenever needed.

We know this is not the simplest approach, but we believe it matters.

Every day, our members help make psoriatic disease visible. Through photographs, personal stories, treatment experiences, questions, and conversations, they help educate others, challenge misconceptions, reduce stigma, and increase understanding of the realities of living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

The group's public nature means that these experiences are not hidden away. They become part of a wider conversation, helping to raise awareness of the global challenges faced by people affected by psoriatic disease and the many unmet needs that still exist.

This milestone is also a testament to our incredible volunteer team.

The group is run entirely by volunteers, all of whom have personal lived experience of psoriatic disease. Their compassion, commitment, and generosity help ensure the community remains supportive, welcoming, and safe for everyone who joins.

As a patient-led organisation, the community is at the heart of everything we do.

The conversations taking place every single day help us maintain a genuine understanding of the issues that matter most to people affected by psoriatic disease. Members share their priorities, frustrations, successes, concerns, and experiences, allowing us to keep our finger on the pulse of the community we represent.

Those insights help shape our awareness campaigns, educational resources, advocacy efforts, and policy work.

Whilst the number itself is significant, what truly matters is what sits behind it.

50,000 individuals.

Hundreds of thousands of conversations.

Countless acts of kindness, encouragement, and support.

Today, we're not celebrating illness. We're celebrating community.

We're celebrating people supporting one another through some of life's most challenging moments.

We're celebrating the willingness of thousands of individuals to share their experiences so others feel less alone.

And for that, we are incredibly grateful.

Thank you to every member who has shared a story, answered a question, offered support, or simply reminded somebody that they are not facing psoriatic disease alone.

50,000 voices. One community. Thank you. 💜🧡

You can join our Facebook peer support community here.