The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), an Upper Nyack-based patient-centered nonprofit organization seeking to improve the quality of life for people with chronic illness, has launched the HEROES (Health Education + Reliable Outreach + Empathetic Support) program, a free platform to equip salon professionals to better support their clients with skin and scalp conditions.
Created by, with and for stylists, salons and barbershops with input from patients and health care professionals, the HEROES program provides evidence-based information about psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (eczema) and alopecia, in accessible, easy-to-understand formats for both program participants and their clients.
“In addition to the stigma associated with visible illnesses such as psoriasis, eczema, and alopecia, there are also significant health disparities in recognizing and effectively treating these chronic diseases,” said Dr. Loyd Godwin, founder of Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut, who will serve as one of the medical advisors of the HEROES program. “As a dermatologist, I”™m excited that GHLF”™s HEROES program will help beauty professionals educate their clients about what a healthy scalp looks like and advise action if additional support from a dermatologist or medical professional is needed.”
“Addressing the fact that skin diseases might present differently in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) is one way we are working to reduce health disparities,” said Sarah Shaw, GHLF”™s BIPOC community outreach senior manager. “One of the most important ways to improve health outcomes is helping to facilitate early and fast diagnosis in marginalized communities.”
The HEROES program is sponsored by a grant from Bristol Myers Squibb.
