• People with psoriasis should follow the same public health guidelines as people without a chronic condition, in addition to the advice from their doctor.
• Check with your doctor about safety protocols in advance of in-person medical appointments.
• Follow local COVID-19 guidelines. Your local public health agencies may offer additional information to the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Since the COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation, guidance on disease management issued by medical societies is subject to change. The information contained in this article represents what is believed to be the most relevant COVID-19-related guidance based on the most up-to-date publications as of December 14, 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic is stressful for everyone, especially for those already managing psoriasis or other chronic conditions. Your doctor should be your primary resource for helping you manage your health during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to following your doctor’s advice, there are straightforward steps you can take to protect yourself from COVID-19 and manage your psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

Staying Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Everyone should follow the basic public health guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These include the following precautions to protect yourself and others:¹

	Wash Your Hands Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available. It’s especially important to wash your hands before handling food or touching your face, and after returning from being out in public, touching your mask, or using the bathroom.
	Social Distance When in public, stay at least 6 feet away from people who are not part of your immediate household. A distance of 6 feet is about two arms’ length. Avoid crowded places.
	Wear a Mask Adults and children over 2 years old should wear a clean mask or face covering when out in public. Many states or cities have mask requirements for entering public places, like grocery stores or other businesses.
	Keep High-Touch Surfaces Clean Disinfect high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, phones, and sinks on a daily basis.
	Cover Your Cough Practice good cough and sneeze etiquette by coughing or sneezing into your elbow or a tissue. Wash your hands right away.
	Vaccinate Against the Flu The CDC strongly recommends that everyone aged 6 months or older get a flu shot to reduce flu spread amidst the pandemic. A task force of medical professionals convened by the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) recommends flu vaccination for people with psoriasis.2 There is a special flu shot for people over age 65. You can talk with your dermatologist or primary care provider if you have questions about the flu shot.

Staying Safe at Doctor’s Appointments

The use of telehealth has greatly expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, telehealth may not be the optimal approach for every medical situation. Talk to your doctor to determine if you’re a candidate for virtual visits or if an in-person appointment is necessary and can be safely conducted.

The following are steps you can take to keep yourself and others safe during in-person medical appointments.

	Review Safety Protocols Before Your Appointment Hospitals and medical offices have instituted a variety of safety measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. You will likely be informed of safety protocols when you schedule your appointment. Feel confident in asking questions to ensure you know what to expect when you arrive. You can also send an electronic message with questions through a patient portal, if your dermatologist offers that option.3
	Stay Home if You Are Sick Call your doctor before your visit if you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19.4 Many COVID-19 symptoms, like fever or cough, are also symptoms of the flu or other illnesses.5 For everyone’s safety, it’s important to stay home if you are sick. Talk to your doctor about options for a telemedicine appointment or rescheduling an in-person visit when you are feeling better. Your doctor can also help you determine if COVID-19 testing is appropriate.
	Wear a Mask Most medical offices and hospitals require that everyone on the premises wears a face mask. Some offices and hospitals provide surgical masks, while others will expect you to wear your own mask. Wearing a mask is an important measure you can take to protect yourself and others.3
	Be Mindful in the Waiting Room Depending on the size of the waiting room, some offices will not allow people to wait inside before their appointments. If you are allowed in the waiting room, do your best to maintain 6 feet of distance between you and others when sitting or when waiting to speak to a receptionist.3
	Remember Hand Hygiene If you can, avoid contact with high-touch surfaces like door handles and elevator buttons. You can use a tissue or wear disposable gloves to open doors or press buttons. If you have one, bring a travel size bottle of hand sanitizer to clean your hands.3 Many offices provide hand sanitizer for your use. You can bring your own pen to fill out paper forms, and use touchless payment options if available.

Staying Safe While Treating Psoriasis

At the start of the pandemic, there were lots of questions about the effect of psoriasis medications on a person’s risk for infection with the coronavirus and severe complications from COVID-19.²

Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about your psoriasis treatment and COVID-19, or if you are not satisfied with your current treatment plan. Working together, you can determine the treatment plan that will be the safest and most effective for you.

Planning Ahead for Peace of Mind

People with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis may want to develop a contingency plan in case they are unable to leave their home. You may wish to take the following steps to protect your health and plan ahead:

• Ask your health care provider or health insurance company about obtaining an extra supply of necessary medications.
• Set up a mail-order service for medication, if available.
• Stock up on over-the-counter medications to treat fever, cough, and cold symptoms — as well as necessities such as tissues.
• Order groceries or supplies through a delivery service to minimize public contact.
• Keep enough household items and groceries on hand to be prepared to stay at home for an extended period of time.
• If you have people who come in to help you, such as a relative or home health aide, make sure they are taking appropriate COVID-19 safety precautions.
• Make a plan to reach out to friends or loved ones by phone or video chat to minimize feelings of isolation.

Finding Support

MyPsoriasisTeam offers a support group of more than 84,000 other people facing the same conditions as you, always available online. Connect with others who are facing the challenges of psoriatic disease and the COVID-19 pandemic together.