Is psoriasis contagious?

You may have seen psoriasis on a neighbor or coworker and wondered if it can spread to you. No, you cannot catch it. The American Academy of Dermatology states: "Psoriasis is not contagious."

These answers are written in Madera for readers anywhere in the county, and Madera Acres and Fairmead each have a page of their own.

What "not contagious" means day to day

Nothing passes from one person to another, so a handshake, a hug or a shared office is not a risk. If you have psoriasis yourself, you do not need to keep family members at a distance or feel you must hide the patches to protect anyone.

Two free psoriasis pages to read first

Reading costs nothing and needs no background. The Psoriasis Resource Center from the American Academy of Dermatology is a good first stop, and the Yale Medicine psoriasis fact sheet is a second plain-language read. Start with one and write down any question it raises.

When a patch needs a professional look

Skin that is new to you, keeps spreading, hurts, or leaves you unsure what it is deserves a professional look.

Can psoriasis be treated?

Once you know it cannot spread, the next thing readers want to know is what can be done about it. The American Academy of Dermatology page on psoriasis medications and light therapies lays out the main options, which is a useful list to bring to an appointment.