Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 09, 2015

Beverly Hills celebrity cosmetic dermatologist and renowned expert on advanced skin treatments, Dr. Paul W. Wallace, was featured as a keynote speaker during the NPF Psoriasis Skin of Color Congressional Briefing held yesterday at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. With an extensive 20-year background in dermatology, Dr. Wallace was chosen by NPF staff to best convey the urgency of a growing skincare epidemic that touches countless people around the globe.

The goal of the briefing was to highlight and educate Members of Congress via their staff on the unique challenges of understanding, diagnosing, and treating psoriasis in non-Caucasian populations specifically. Although it is a fairly common chronic inflammatory disorder, there isnt much research or data relating to psoriasis in ethnicities other than Caucasians. This makes it so much harder to accurately identify psoriasis in darker skin tones, and as a result its often misdiagnosed, said Dr. Wallace. Awareness, education, clinical evidence, and resources for treatment of psoriasis in people of color are desperately needed.

In addition to his concerns over misdiagnoses, another major theme Dr. Wallace covered during the briefing emphasized the accompanying health risks that often are associated with those who suffer from psoriasis. People with psoriasis have reported higher rates of depression and anxiety, and it has been linked to an elevated risk for other serious conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Furthermore, Dr. Wallace outlined the apparent gaps these ethnicities face in a) understanding the programs and assistance that are available to them for covering medical costs, and b) having sufficient access to specialists in the area who can help.

There is great disparity for those who are suffering, said Wallace. Some people have challenges accessing the treatment they need due to out of pocket expenses they cant afford or lack of treatment availability, while others just believe they are undeserving of quality health care. Im hoping that by speaking in front of Congress, I can help create change.

Dr. Wallace added that the total estimated costs of managing psoriasis worldwide is somewhere around $135 billion per year. And for so many under served populations, this amount only pushes them further away from the treatment they so desperately need.

About Dr. Paul Wallace

Dr. Paul W. Wallace, M.D., M.P.A., is a Beverly Hills celebrity Cosmetic Dermatologist proudly serving all communities of southern California for over 20 years. Dr. Wallace is a master of his field and is a resource for patients around the world. He delivers superior patient service and believes in only using natural, innovative approaches to helping patients look and feel their very best.

Dr. Paul Wallace received his undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley. He then attended Harvard Medical, University of Oklahoma and University of Missouri Graduate Schools. His residency training in Dermatology and fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was performed at the Charles Drew/Martin Luther King, Jr. Medical Center, in Los Angeles.

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Celebrity Doctor Paul W. Wallace Speaks at NPF Psoriasis Skin of Color Congressional Briefing In Hopes of Bringing ...