Fashion show to help raise public awareness of psoriasis

Today, Tim Gunn, television host and fashion consultant ("Project Runway," "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style") and chief creative officer of Liz Claiborne, Inc., is hosting the Addressing Psoriasis(TM) Fashion Show, sponsored by Amgen and Wyeth, in New York City. The fashion show recognizes people with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who have not allowed the condition to inhibit their personal style. Winners of the Addressing Psoriasis(TM) contest are walking the runway in custom-designed outfits created by emerging talent from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) to help raise public awareness of psoriasis.

"Participating in the Addressing Psoriasis(TM) campaign and meeting these eight special people has been an honor," said Gunn. "They are an inspiration to the psoriasis community because they have proven that psoriasis does not need to stand in the way of personal style. I congratulate them all on their efforts to overcome the style challenges that this chronic medical condition can present."

The Addressing Psoriasis(TM) Fashion Show is the culmination of an awareness campaign designed to help people with plaque psoriasis get more information about managing their disease and feel more confident in their everyday style. The eight contest winners were selected from among hundreds of entries and were chosen based on the inspirational nature of their story about overcoming the challenges of living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and how it has impacted their personal style and the clothing they wear.

Since July, thousands of people from the general public - including those without psoriasis - have cast their votes to select the most inspirational story from among the eight winners. Today, Gunn is announcing that Cynthia McGowen of League City, Texas has been voted the most inspirational.

"Walking the runway in the Addressing Psoriasis(TM) Fashion Show has been so exciting. I am thrilled my story was voted as the most inspirational, although I truly believe that all of the winners had very inspiring stories to share," said Cynthia McGowen. "Once I learned more about my condition and how to manage it with the help of my dermatologist, I was able to see style as less of a challenge and more of a fun way to present myself to the world. I hope that others who live with this condition are able to take back their style too."

The winners' stories, as well as footage of the Addressing Psoriasis(TM) Fashion Show will be available on www.addresspsoriasis.com. The Web site also features useful resources about psoriasis - including links to the American Academy of Dermatology, National Psoriasis Foundation and Psoriasis Cure Now - and style tips from Gunn.

Psoriasis, which affects nearly 7 million Americans, is a chronic disease of the immune system that causes the skin cells to grow at an accelerated rate. Although there are several types of psoriasis, approximately 80 percent of psoriasis patients have plaque psoriasis, which causes itchy, red scaly patches which may be painful. People with psoriasis often experience feelings of self-consciousness and choose their clothing because of the appearance of their skin.