People mistake her skin condition for something contagious — but this mom’s response to her little girl’s stares is touching hearts

Ashley Nage, from Queen Creek, Arizona, USA, has shared photos of her 19-month-old daughter Charlie, whose red skin patches often attract unwanted attention.

Her goal is to help people understand that Charlie’s condition is not contagious and encourage other parents to treat children with visible skin conditions with kindness rather than fear.

Ashley has also spoken about strangers who wrongly assume her daughter has been badly sunburned. Her response to those who stare is simple: she kisses and cuddles Charlie openly in public.

She said: “I really don’t understand why some people can be so unkind toward a child. When we take her out, other parents have pulled their children away because they thought she had something contagious.”

Some parents worried that close contact might put their own children at risk, choosing to keep their distance instead.

Ashley responded by explaining: “My reaction was very simple. I chose to kiss and cuddle Charlie so people could see that her condition is not contagious and that she is not a danger to anyone.

“Some people made hurtful comments asking why we would allow our daughter to get so sunburned. Others seemed uncomfortable and questioned why we would take her outside.”

“To me, they simply don’t understand the condition, so we don’t let it bother us.”

Ashley has never wanted to hide Charlie from the world.

Charlie was diagnosed with psoriasis at just four months old, after tiny red spots appeared on her skin and developed into larger patches that can become flaky.

The condition affects more than 125 million people worldwide, and symptoms can become more noticeable during periods of stress, illness or certain food intolerances.

After her daughter’s diagnosis, Ashley said: “I never wanted to hide my daughter’s condition. I don’t cover her up with high-neck clothing. I still let her wear shorts like other children.

“I’m not ashamed because I know my daughter is beautiful. Her psoriasis does not define who she is. She is wonderful, funny and incredibly sweet.

“If I put her in a stroller or tried to hide her, people might become curious and stare, or even look at her with pity. Worse, they might pull their children away from her. I want people to understand that although she has psoriasis, there is no reason to be afraid. Neither Charlie nor her condition poses a risk to others.

“I hope people understand that she does not have a contagious illness and learn to show more compassion toward children in similar situations.”

Ashley says Charlie is one of the youngest children she has encountered living with the condition. The couple affectionately nicknamed her their “unicorn baby,” hoping the loving name would help others see her uniqueness rather than fear her skin condition.

The couple have also shared how they follow a gentle bathing routine lasting around two hours each day to help care for and protect Charlie’s skin.