is psoriasis contagious?

One thing I Can Clear up:  Psoriasis is NOT Contagious

One of the most painful things about having Psoriasis – you know, besides the actual physical stuff  – is the way people treat you when they see your skin.

Even my closest friends can’t disguise their shock when they see my Psoriasis for the first time.  Sure, they try to cover it up with mild indifference, but I see the horror flicker across their face even if it’s only for a split second. 

Strangers are even less careful about disguising their reactions.  One woman took one look at my legs and crossed the street – and narrowly avoided getting hit by a car, no less – just to avoid sharing the same breathing space. God forbid she should catch it.

Their reactions hurt – sometimes even more than the itching, burning, and aching I’ve been living with since I was a young girl.  

And I know what they’re wondering:  “Is Psoriasis contagious.”

 It’s a reasonable question, I suppose – and maybe you’re wondering the same thing.  After all, it’s basically normal to fear what we don’t understand.  Maybe it’s an evolutionary survival mechanism – after all, if we don’t know if something’s dangerous, isn’t it better to stay away?   

But the thing is, Psoriasis is not contagious.   While the underlying strep throat infection that can trigger Guttate Psoriasis is contagious, by the time the symptoms of Guttate Psoriasis appear, the strep infection has been resolved.

So, let me be crystal clear because it’s time we resolved this issue once and for all. 

Is Psoriasis contagious?  No. 

Can you catch Psoriasis from someone?  No.

If you go over to your friends house and they have Psoriasis will you get Psoriasis from sitting on their toilet?  No. 

In other words, we don’t have the plague.  A pox is not upon us.  We’re just dealing with an autoimmune disorder that can affect anyone, and happens to affect us. 

No.  Psoriasis is not contagious.  Period.  The end.