There are different types of psoriasis, including nail psoriasis. It is also called nail psoriasis or nail psoriasis. This form of the disease affects a particular part of the body: the toenails and fingernails. There is deformation of the nails. The nail is dotted with a whitish spot. It becomes fragile and often flakes.
Nail psoriasis is manifested by brittle, yellowed, streaked nails. These are all signs that can reveal underlying health problems such as psoriasis disease.
First of all, we will explain the origin and causes of nail psoriasis. Then we will give you the possible treatments to treat it by local treatments. And finally our advice for acting on nail psoriasis and helping to eliminate it.
What is nail psoriasis, its symptoms?
Nail psoriasis, or nail psoriasisIs a variation of psoriasis. It is an autoimmune skin disease. It causes chronic inflammation of the skin. According to the France Psoriasis Association, 35 to 50% of people with psoriasis have skin manifestations of the disease on the nails (hands and/or feet). See also our article on palmar-plantar psoriasis. The surface area of the body affected, in the case of nail psoriasis, is limited. However, we cannot speak of a minimal form of psoriasis. Its impact on patients' lives is significant.
Patients affected by nail psoriasis
Nail psoriasis would affect at one time or another 80 to 90% of people suffering from psoriasis (1). This skin damage to the nails can quickly become disabling from a “social” point of view. Indeed, yellow and damaged nails tend to make those around you uncomfortable. It is also from a “practical” point of view. In fact, nail psoriasis can make daily activities difficult.
Certain factors are aggravating. When the skin is attacked by chemical substances, for example. It weakens the hands for household chores and cooking. Among the aggravating factors, we will cite a abusive manicure, carried out at too high a frequency. In these cases, simple measures can be taken. Space out manicure sessions. Nails can also be protected by wearing gloves. Protection against moisture is recommended. Better to favor short nails.
Psoriasis can affect the fingertips. However, we will only talk about nail psoriasis when the nail is touched.
Symptoms of nail psoriasis
The nail grows at an accelerated rate. It is then subject to certain alterations. They are due to keratinization disorders – depending on the location of the psoriasis. The nail has small depressions on the surface. Sometimes, the skin damage is accompanied by transverse striations or longitudinal. There may also be a crumbling or peeling toenails or fingernails. The inflammation can also spread under the nail. The skin involvement of the disease is therefore obvious. In this case of psoriasis, the lesions are not in contact with air. They therefore heal with difficulty. On the other hand, nail psoriasis does not affect the nail matrix.
How does nail psoriasis manifest? What are the causes ?
Good to know: nail health is linked in particular to diet. Make sure you eat healthy, for the health of your nails. We speak of “thimble” nails or “furrows” when psoriasis affects the surface of the nail. We then observe streaks and irregularities on the nail. The surrounding skin is also slightly affected. Also think that the tobacco damages the nails. Contact with smoke and is not necessarily good for psoriasis.
When psoriasis affects the nail bed, four different types of lesions can appear:
- orange/brown colored spots,
- detachment of the nail (onycholysis),
- thickening of the nail (hyperkeratosis),
- crumbling of the nail (dystrophy).
The symptoms are progressive. Nail psoriasis appears as a spot on the nail. Then it will expand. It is essential to treat the lesions. Otherwise, psoriasis may develop. This form of the disease can cause severe outbreaks of psoriasis. The nail will begin to furrow, or even come loose. Nail psoriasis can quickly become very painful and unsightly. If you notice the above-mentioned symptoms, we recommend consulting a practitioner. He will thus be able to establish a reliable diagnosis.
How to recognize nail psoriasis on the hands and toes?
Nail psoriasis can actually affect both the hands and the toes of the patient. If the fingernails are affected, the toenails are not necessarily affected and vice versa. Whatever happens, the patient's quality of life is impacted.
Nail psoriasis affects the hands more often than the feet
Fingernails are generally more affected than those of the feet.
What does nail psoriasis look like?
Small holes in the nail, dice punctuation
In addition to pink spots or red patches, the nail can be studded with small holes on its surface. Punctuation like a thimble. Or again, it may present undulations. This particular aspect of the nail is often caused by nail psoriasis.
The classification of the degree of severity of psoriasis is established by measuring the surface area of skin (or nail) affected. Thus, mild psoriasis covers less than 5% of the skin. For the nail, mild psoriasis means that not all the nails are affected, or even that the symptoms are barely apparent. The nail is just a little streaked, a little pitted.
When it comes to severe psoriasis, however, the symptoms are more significant. The nail is more flaky. In some cases it turns yellow. The prescribed treatment may then be taken orally. In the most severe forms of psoriasis, the dermatologist may use biotherapies. Retinoids or vitamin D derivatives are also frequently prescribed. However, be careful of the side effects. Especially for pregnant women, due to the risks for the fetus.
What is the difference between mycosis and psoriasis?
In fact, the diagnosis of nail psoriasis by a dermatologist is sometimes difficult. Patients' symptoms can be confused with those of a yeast infection. In both cases, abnormalities in nail color are noted. This is why a wise dermatologist should take a mycological sample. He will take a piece of a nail. Then he will cultivate it. The positive or negative result of a possible mycosis (a fungus) will then be noted. Microbial colonization of the nail will thus make it possible to confirm a diagnosis of mycosis.
Nail psoriasis or fungus?
The only way to know if you have nail psoriasis or nail fungus is toclinical examination by a dermatologist. Indeed, nail fungus is caused by the development of fungi under the nail. Therefore, a nail sample and a laboratory analysis will allow you to know if fungus is present.
If you already have psoriasis on other parts of the body, then there is a high chance that you have nail psoriasis. Mycosis and nail psoriasis are not treated in the same way.
Also note that a nail affected by psoriasis is fragile. It can therefore be more easily infected by a mycosis. In this case, both the fungus and the psoriasis of the nails must be treated.
How to treat nail psoriasis? What treatment for this type of psoriasis?
It is advisable to consult a general practitioner, a dermatologist or a naturopath. Especially if you are looking for specific medications for this part of the body.
There are, in traditional medicine, several drugs or chemical treatments, specific or not. They help treat nail psoriasis. Many of these medications are treatments that cause side effects that are harmful to health. Be careful not to confuse it with palmar-plantar psoriasis. It is similar to this type of psoriasis, but the symptoms are very different.
Nail psoriasis, the most effective natural treatment
To treat mild to moderate nail psoriasis, Pso Natura Regenerative Complex provides a real solution. This 100% natural treatment formulated with Carapa procera oil has benefits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory et regenerative. It helps treat psoriasis of the nail, hands and feet in just 1 month. Its use is simple.
Twice a day, massage the nail with the treatment placed on the loofah sponge provided for 10 to 15 seconds. So, in just a few minutes a day, every day, the results will be felt.
Be careful if your nail is detached or torn off. We therefore recommend applying the treatment directly to the skin. Without using the loofah sponge. Leave it on for a few minutes then rinse. Exfoliating skin and nail cells with the loofah sponge may indeed be too abrasive.
Do not hesitate to add a fine dab of Pso Natura Rich Restructuring Cream. This special cream will hydrate the nail and help it regain its health.
For simple stains on the nail, the application of a varnish specially developed for nail psoriasis may be sufficient. Unfortunately, these types of products often take a long time to act (6 months). They are not enough to completely eliminate nail/ungual psoriasis.
You can complement the action of this type of nail polish with a daily moisturizing action. As with psoriasis in the rest of the body, staying hydrated is the key to healing skin cells. If possible, take the opportunity to take care of your fingers and toes. To help nail health, also consider a little treatment. yeast. Finally, remember to take care of your nails using a surgras soap.
Our advice for treating nail psoriasis
How to treat nail psoriasis naturally?
First of all, taking care of your nails requires careful hygiene. To avoid worsening psoriasis on the nails, here are our tips:
- Keep nails short. Shocks and the introduction of dirt under the nail will be better avoided. Be careful when cutting them. Don't use brewer's yeast, for example. The latter contributes to rapid growth of nails.
- Trimming brittle nails after a warm oily bath. The nail will be more flexible and easier to cut. It will be less brittle and will grow back faster and look more beautiful.
- When the nail comes off. It leaves an open door for bacteria and yeast fungi. Wash your hands well. Dry the nails well. Protect them in case of manual work.
- Wear gloves to protect hands and nails. Especially for washing dishes, gardening, etc.
- Immerse your nails in salt water can be effective. You can prepare the bath yourself. Mix 300g of cooking salt in a liter of water. Take a foot and/or hand bath for 30 minutes. You can also add 2-3 handfuls of wheat starch. Rinse and grease with your special cream.
- Eat healthy. You can also take food supplements. Taking care of yourself means taking care of your mind and your skin cells.
Nail psoriasis, varnish
In case of evenings, or holiday periods, you may want to apply polish to your nails. We advise you to apply a water-soluble protective varnish. This will help you avoid another flare-up. See an example of special psoriasis varnish.
Behaviors to avoid for nail psoriasis
If you want to avoid having psoriasis on your nails, here are the points to avoid.
Always apply a base to protect the nail. Applying false nails (gel, acrylic) or even applying nail polish of any kind is not recommended. In fact, they risk damaging or weakening the nail. Also be careful with the use of nail polish remover, which is often too aggressive for the skin.
Tobacco is an enemy for the epidermis of the fingers. Even more for the nails. The latter is the cause of yellow-brownish spots on the nail and the tip of the finger.
For toenails, protect them by wearing shoes. Avoid walking barefoot. Same thing when you're outside. At the beach or pool, consider wearing special shoes. They will protect feet and nails.
In the case of nail psoriasis, filing the nails is not recommended. The action could cause thickening of the nail.
Read also:
sources:
(1) France Psoriasis
