Can HIV Be Contracted Through Contact Of Skin On Scalp With Psoriasis?

Posted on Thu, 26 Nov 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 26 Nov 2015 Answered on

Wed, 16 Dec 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi, I have a small doubt, I have got Psoriasis skin problem in scalp, It's itchy sometimes not. So recently I went to a Salon for a hair cut, It's a Unisex Salon, So the Lady comes washes my hair with a Shampoo. She wan't wearing any gloves. I know HIV does not transmit that way. Checked her hands there wan't any big cut. But do u think this kind of incident transmit HIV...this happened on 25th October, and I am suffering from cough and common cold since 26th October

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
You have no risk for HIV through that shampooing incident.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.

You need not worry at all about this possibility. HIV can not survive outside the body fluids for more than few seconds. It can not survive in shampoo media especially. It will not spread through casual contact. Even she has HIV infection and assuming that she had an injury over her hand, then also there was no possibility of HIV transmission by this way. Just ignore and forget. Your symptoms of cough and cold has no relation to either HIV or that incident. Consult your physician and get well soon.
Dr S.Muruagan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar