One type of chronic dermatological disease is nail psoriasis. It can bother an adult or a child if there are appropriate factors for its spread. The disease has many similarities to common psoriasis, as the pathological stratification of the cells is also characteristic of each other, resulting in severe deformation of the nail plates.
Causes of the disease
Some people think that toenail or nail psoriasis is the cause of severe stress. Although it has been scientifically proven that strong emotional experiences cannot lead to such changes. Therefore, they cannot be considered as the main cause of the disease. Doctors identify 2 factors that can actually lead to an abnormal process:
- Disruption of the immune systemwhich is responsible for the formation of healthy cells and the fermentation of substances. Such changes do not allow for the full development of skin particles. They start to grow and overlap. The result is a thickening of the nail plates;
- Predisposition to psoriasis.Most patients have a predisposition to pathology in their genes. You wake up immediately after certain factors negatively affect your body.
There are several factors that can lead to disease activation:
- Hormonal failure;
- Metabolic problems;
- Long-term use of anti-inflammatory and beta-blockers;
- Climatic conditions (cold and dry weather);
- Chronic fatigue;
- Infectious lesions;
- Damage to the upper layers of the skin.
In half of the cases, psoriasis of the fingernails or legs develops along with the skin lesions.
Psoriasis can only affect the nails or the rest of the body.
First Signs of Psoriasis on Nails of Hands and Feet
Nail lesions in psoriasis can be identified by the symptoms of this condition. Man is disturbed from the first days of the onset of the disease. Common signs of a pathological process include:
- Dents and grooves on the surface of nail plates;
- Change the nail color to darker;
- Inflammatory process along the edges of the nails;
- Itching may be felt on the skin of the fingers.
If treatment is not started in the early stages of the disease, it will continue to grow and its clinical manifestations will become even more pronounced.
Stages of the disease
You can find out what your nail psoriasis looks like by studying the photo carefully, showing the affected plates and fingers. In the early stages of development, the manifestation of the pathology is not very pronounced. With the successful spread of psoriasis, an increase in symptoms is observed in which healthy tissues are affected.
Doctors distinguish 3 main stages in the course of nail psoriasis:
- Progressive.At this stage, the nail begins to be obscured by tiny dots that are white or tan. Over time, the size of the papules increases. At this stage, psoriasis does not affect the deep layers of the nail, so it can be cured quickly. There is no pain when the affected area is pressed, but the surface gradually peels off;
- Fixed.Dots do not appear on nails. At the same time, inflammatory processes slow down. However, discomfort or pain persists. Sometimes, at this stage, the skin next to the plates is covered with disease-specific rashes. He himself dries up very much;
- Regressive.Previously developed rashes actively disappear. Whitish edges appear near the injuries. As a general rule, at this stage in the development of psoriasis, patients suffer from unbearable itching.
Given the onset of a disease, doctors already need to understand what stage it is in. This helps them find the most optimal therapy for the patient.
If left untreated, psoriasis will penetrate new areas.
Diagnostic Methods
An experienced professional who diagnoses and treats dermatological diseases can immediately determine if a person has nail psoriasis. Laboratory tests allow the correctness of the conclusions drawn to be verified. You may need to
to make a diagnosis- Complete blood count;
- Analysis of a biopsy or psoriasis scale.
Instrumental diagnosis of nail psoriasis is not required.
How to treat nail psoriasis
Nail psoriasis requires complex therapy in children and adults. A single tool or procedure for such a diagnosis is not sufficient. The treatment of psoriasis of the nails on the hands or feet is common to all patients. Individually selected medications and physiotherapy. In addition, the patient is advised to review their daily diet and make significant changes to their normal lifestyle. After all, the success of a therapy course depends on it.
As soon as a person notices signs of nail psoriasis, they should consult a dermatologist immediately. What symptoms help to recognize the disease has been discussed above.
Most doctors prescribe topical ointments and systemic tablets
Drug therapy
For a condition such as nail psoriasis, treatment can be done at home. Your doctor will prescribe a number of medications that will be taken orally or applied to the affected areas.
In the early stages of dermatological pathology, a topical agent should be used. Ointments and creams may be hormonal or non-hormonal. Demand for the former for advanced forms of the disease.
Non-hormonal medications rarely cause side effects and complications. In addition, they do not lead to addiction, unlike more aggressive formulations for the external treatment of nail plate.
If the patient's nails are severely affected, the doctor will recommend oral medication. It also tells you how to treat nail psoriasis this way and what dose to follow.
The following medications may be needed for nail psoriasis:
- Immune modulators (vitamins);
- antihistamines;
- Sedatives.
In most cases, medications are not stopped until the disease has subsided.
Physiotherapy
Fingernail psoriasis is often treated with physiotherapy. Good results for such violations:
- PUVA therapy;
- X-ray therapy;
- UV irradiation;
- Ultrasound therapy;
- Laser therapy.
In order for the result to be positive only after the interventions, the number and duration of physiotherapy sessions must be chosen correctly. This task should be entrusted to an experienced professional. Otherwise, a patient trying to understand the cure for psoriasis will experience serious side effects during the procedure.
PUVA therapy is one of the most modern and effective methods.
Proper nail care
In order for treatment to be as effective as possible, a patient with psoriasis should pay attention to proper nail care. The disease severely damages their plates, so such care will not be unnecessary. First, it consists of adherence to hygiene rules. Doctors recommend the following for this diagnosis:
- Nails should be cut as short as possible;
- It is advisable to wear protective gloves when performing household tasks;
- Avoid work that could damage your nails and the skin around them;
- You should regularly check the cleanliness of your nail plates.
Medical methods will be more effective if the patient adheres to these rules in addition to folk and traditional therapeutic methods.
In psoriasis, it is especially important to protect your hands from aggressive exposure.
Folk remedies
Experts in traditional medicine know which herb cures psoriasis affecting the nail plate. Like many other herbs, it is recommended when making home remedies to treat dermatological diseases.
Patients can use the following folk remedies:
- Celandine broth
- .To prepare 0, 5 liters of water need to pour 2 tbsp. l. herbs. This mixture should be boiled over low heat. You need to cook for about 30 minutes on average. The broth is then made into spas in which the arms and legs are sunk for 20-25 minutes;
- Natural oils.These foods work well with psoriasis. Sea buckthorn oil is particularly preferred. It moisturizes the skin around the nails and enriches them with useful trace elements. To treat the affected area with oil, all you have to do is put it on a cotton pad and then walk across the plate. It is recommended to repeat the procedure up to three times a day;
- Onion compression.It is made from medium onions, which are previously passed through a meat grinder. The resulting crumb is placed on the nails and covered with a clean gauze bandage. The compress should be left for 30 minutes;
- Bay leaf decoction.Can also be used when making spas. To make broth, pour 2 cups of hot water with 20 g of grass. Cook the mixture for up to 10 minutes. The product is then cooled to a comfortable temperature and the hands or feet are lowered. Indoors, it is also allowed to take such a decoction, 40 g three times a day;
- Herbal decoction.You can make a cure for baths from celandine, chamomile, oak bark, sage and string. They are prepared in the same way as in the previous recipe;
- Herbal infusion.For oral use. The homemade medicine is made from the leaves of blueberries, St. John’s wort, potassium root, celandine and string. The ingredients are taken up in equal proportions. The infusion is made from 1 tablespoon. l. collection and a glass of boiling water. It is recommended that you take 50 g of medicine twice a day.
Folk remedies should be used in conjunction with traditional treatments. Otherwise, they have no effect.
Therapeutic diet
If the upper layer of human skin is affected, a faulty diet can be blamed. Because of this, the body lacks useful trace elements that support the immune and other systems. And as you know, failures lead to psoriatic disease. Nails affected by psoriasis can be treated with a special diet. It must be hypoallergenic.
Patients with nail psoriasis should have a balanced diet. It is strongly recommended to exclude foods that could lead to allergies. These are chocolate, strawberries, citrus fruits and coffee. You should also give up salty, smoked, marinated, spicy and fatty delicacies. Ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard are prohibited.
It is recommended to follow a mono-diet designed for 1-2 days at the time of worsening autoimmune disease. Such a diet involves the use of only 1 product. It can be apples, kefir, fish or cereals.
The therapeutic diet should be enriched with fermented dairy products, fruits, vegetables, herbs and lean fish.
Foods that cause allergies can also aggravate psoriasis.
Prevention
It is much easier to try to prevent nail psoriasis from developing than to fight it later. Disease prevention consists of following a number of recommendations:
- You should include plant foods in your diet;
- Grilled, smoked, pickled and salty foods should be given;
- It is advisable to rest regularly in places where the skin and the whole body have a favorable climate;
- Take vitamin and mineral complexes in courses;
- Avoid damage to the skin and nail plates;
- Timely treatment of infectious diseases.
Don't forget to take care of your own skin and nails. This is the only way to protect yourself from the development of psoriasis and its relapses.
Forecast
Psoriasis is a disease that is constantly evolving. Medication and physiotherapy only temporarily stop the development process. No man could fully recover. If the patient follows the recommendations of the specialist, he will be able to prevent repeated damage to the skin and nails.
Complications and Consequences
Psoriatic nail lesions should be treated from the first days of their development. If therapy is lacking or chosen incorrectly, the patient is at risk of facing the complications and consequences of an autoimmune disease.
Nail psoriasis can severely damage the cardiovascular system. The greatest danger is posed by blood vessels, as the disease causes pathological changes in them.
Any form of psoriasis can cause psychological problems. They are directly related to the fact that others rarely relate normally to a person who has similar defects in different parts of the body. Because of this, the patient withdraws to himself, begins to abuse alcohol, and is constantly chased by a state of depression. Against the background of a disturbed psyche, the likelihood of malignant processes appearing in skin cells increases.