Is Psoriasis Contagious?

Psoriasis is a skin disease resulting from an abnormal immune response. It affects over 8 million people in the U.S. For many, living with psoriasis is much more than skin deep. People with psoriasis are often stigmatized because of their skin. They’re labeled as contagious or blamed for their condition. And this contributes to the increased levels of depression that many people with psoriasis have. 

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about psoriasis. Here, we’ll set the record straight on what actually causes psoriasis and why it isn’t contagious.

Can psoriasis spread from person to person?

No. Psoriasis isn’t due to an infection, so it’s never contagious. This means it can’t spread through contact from person to person. This is true no matter what it looks like or how severe it is. It makes no difference if you’re sharing a meal or a hug, swimming in the same pool, or playing on the same team. You can’t catch psoriasis from someone who has it. 

Can scratching cause psoriasis to spread to other parts of your body?

Psoriasis isn’t contagious, so scratching it and touching other parts of your body won’t cause it to spread. 

However, if you have psoriasis and you scratch (or injure) clear skin, it’s possible that you’ll develop psoriasis there. This is called the Koebner phenomenon. It happens because injuring the skin is a psoriasis trigger (not because it’s contagious). 

How do people get psoriasis?

Scientists don’t know exactly how or why people get psoriasis. But it’s probably a combination of a few different factors, including:

• An overactive immune system

• Your genes

• Environmental exposures (more on these below)

When people have psoriasis, it causes patches of skin to grow too fast. This leads to the thick, red or brown, scaly patches that develop on the skin. 

What can trigger psoriasis?

Psoriasis has many different triggers. But keep in mind that triggers are personal. What worsens one person’s psoriasis may not affect someone else. Keeping a journal can help you identify your specific triggers.

Some common psoriasis triggers include:

• Certain medications, like some beta blockers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 

• Drinking alcohol

• Smoking

• Stress

• Infections, like strep throat and HIV

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How can you prevent psoriasis from spreading?

The best way to keep psoriasis from spreading is to find a treatment that works for you. The best treatment depends on a few different factors, including how severe your psoriasis is and your preferences. 

Here are some typical options. It’s common to combine more than one therapy at a time: 

• Medicated creams: These topical treatments are applied directly to the skin. Examples include topical corticosteroids and vitamin D analogues (like calcipotriene).

• Systemic treatments: These treatments work throughout the body. They're available as pills (such as methotrexate and apremilast). They’re also available as biologics given as shots or infusions (like infliximab and ustekinumab)

• Phototherapy (light therapy): This type of treatment exposes your skin to specific ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths of light. It’s usually done in your doctor’s office, but it can also be done at home.

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Written by:

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who has practiced dermatology and dermatopathology for over 10 years across private practice, academic, and telehealth settings. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatopathology.

Edited by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

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