Do you think psoriasis is simply a skin disease? Do you suspect that it's a contagious condition? Do you believe it's caused by poor hygiene or that it can be cured? If so, you're like millions of Americans who are misinformed about the disease. Read on to learn the truth behind the top six psoriasis myths.

Myth: Psoriasis is a contagious disease.

Reality: Research has shown that psoriasis is not, in fact, contagious at all. You can't catch it from, or pass it on to, another person.

Myth: Psoriasis is only a skin disease.

 Reality: Psoriasis is actually an immune-system disease that causes abnormal growth of skin cells. A normal skin cell matures in 28 to 30 days and is shed from the skin's surface, but a psoriatic skin cell matures and moves to the surface in only three to four days, resulting in an excess of cells, which form raised lesions.

Myth: Psoriasis is the result of poor hygiene.

 Reality: Researchers have found no link between the disease and hygiene. Again, psoriasis is an immune-system disease; it can be triggered by various factors, including weather, stress, infections, skin trauma, and certain medications.

Myth: Psoriasis is curable.

 Reality: Psoriasis is a lifelong condition for which scientists currently have no cure. That said, the condition can be managed through proper treatment.

Myth: Psoriasis is easy to diagnose.

 Reality: Unfortunately, it can be difficult to diagnose psoriasis, and the disease is often mistaken for skin conditions such as eczema. In a National Psoriasis Foundation patient-membership survey, 48 percent of respondents stated that their psoriasis had been mistaken by others for a different disease or condition.

Myth: Psoriasis is easy to cope with.

 Reality: Psoriasis can have a profound psychological impact on sufferers. In severe cases, the effects can be debilitating, especially when the symptoms are easily visible. People with psoriasis may experience a range of emotions, from frustration and embarrassment to anger and depression. For this reason, the National Psoriasis Foundation recommends that patients join a psoriasis support group; it can make "a tremendous difference in the lives of those affected by psoriasis," the foundation reports.