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Is Psoriasis A Communicable Disease?
Question: Dear Doctor, One of friend has received a marriage proposal from a psoriasis patient. Is this disease communicable and does it cause skin cancer or any other skin disorder?Please suggest if she can go ahead with the proposal or not?
Brief Answer:
Psoriasis is not infectious and has rare association with cancers
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for writing to me on HCM.
I can understand your concern in this case and I will clear your doubts by stating that psoriasis is not at all infectious or contagious skin condition.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition where body's immune system is attacking skin tissue. Since its an autoimmune condition there is no permanent cure but the condition can be controlled in a very good way whenever there are skin lesions.
The point regarding risk of cancer in psoriasis is critical and should be noted carefully.
While psoriasis per se is not a premalignant or precancerous condition, studies have shown association of psoriasis with cancers like lymphoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.
Now this association of psoriasis with cancers though very rare and negligible is due to immunological nature of psoriasis or due to harmful effects of strong medications used for treating psoriasis is still unclear.
Only very few patients who have very severe psoriasis need such strong medications while majority of the patients are managed with normal medications.
Thus I would like to conclude that the association of psoriasis with these cancers is very rare and can be overlooked.
Role of genetics is well established in psoriasis. 30 % of patients have first degree relative having psoriasis. The vertical transmission is still not very common as its dictated by multiple genes (polygenic) and clinical expression requires environmental factors too.
I hope your doubts are clear. Still if you have any further queries pertaining to this case or any other problem feel free to contact me.
Take care
Dr Hardik Pitroda
MD Dermatology
Psoriasis is not infectious and has rare association with cancers
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for writing to me on HCM.
I can understand your concern in this case and I will clear your doubts by stating that psoriasis is not at all infectious or contagious skin condition.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition where body's immune system is attacking skin tissue. Since its an autoimmune condition there is no permanent cure but the condition can be controlled in a very good way whenever there are skin lesions.
The point regarding risk of cancer in psoriasis is critical and should be noted carefully.
While psoriasis per se is not a premalignant or precancerous condition, studies have shown association of psoriasis with cancers like lymphoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.
Now this association of psoriasis with cancers though very rare and negligible is due to immunological nature of psoriasis or due to harmful effects of strong medications used for treating psoriasis is still unclear.
Only very few patients who have very severe psoriasis need such strong medications while majority of the patients are managed with normal medications.
Thus I would like to conclude that the association of psoriasis with these cancers is very rare and can be overlooked.
Role of genetics is well established in psoriasis. 30 % of patients have first degree relative having psoriasis. The vertical transmission is still not very common as its dictated by multiple genes (polygenic) and clinical expression requires environmental factors too.
I hope your doubts are clear. Still if you have any further queries pertaining to this case or any other problem feel free to contact me.
Take care
Dr Hardik Pitroda
MD Dermatology
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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