One type of dermatological disease that occurs in a chronic form is nail psoriasis. It can affect an adult or a child if there are appropriate factors for its spread. The disease has many similarities with ordinary psoriasis, as it is also characterized by pathological layering of cells on top of each other, which leads to severe deformation of the nail plates.
Causes of the disease
Some people believe that psoriasis of the toenails or toenails occurs against a background 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 reason for the development of the disease. Doctors identify 2 factors that can actually lead to a pathological process:
- Immune system disorder,which is responsible for the formation of healthy cells and the fermentation of substances. Such changes do not allow the skin particles to fully develop. They begin to grow and overlap. The result is thickening of the nail plates;
- Predisposition to the development of psoriasis.In most patients, the tendency to develop pathology is inherent in genes. It wakes up as soon as the body is negatively affected by certain factors.
Several factors can trigger the disease:
- Hormonal insufficiency;
- Metabolic problems;
- Long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs 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 nails of the hands or feet develops together with skin lesions.
Psoriasis can only affect the nails or additionally other parts of the body.
The first signs of psoriasis on the nails of the hands and feet
Nail lesions in psoriasis can be identified by the symptoms characteristic of this condition. They begin to bother a person from the first days of the disease. Common signs of a pathological process include:
- Indentations and grooves on the surface of the nail plates;
- Change the color of the nail to darker;
- Inflammatory process on the edge of the nail;
- Itchy skin on 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 more pronounced.
Stages of the disease
You can find out what nail psoriasis looks like if you look closely at the photo showing the affected plates and fingers. In the initial stage of development the manifestation of pathology is not very pronounced. An increase in symptoms is observed with the successful spread of psoriasis, which affects healthy tissue.
Doctors distinguish 3 main stages in the course of nail psoriasis:
- Progressive.At this stage, the nail begins to be covered with small dots, which are painted in white or yellowish-brown hue. Over time, the papules increase in size. At this stage, psoriasis does not affect the deep layers of the nail, so it can be cured quickly. There is no pain when pressing on the affected area, but its surface gradually peels off;
- Stationary. Dots stop appearing on the nails. At the same time, inflammatory processes slow down. However, the discomfort or pain persists. Sometimes at this stage the skin next to the plates is covered with rashes characteristic of the disease. It itself becomes very dry;
- Regressive.Previously formed rashes actively disappear. Whitish edges appear near the lesions. As a rule, at this stage of the development of psoriasis, patients suffer from unbearable itching.
Observing the development of a disease, doctors must now understand at what stage it is. This will help them find the best therapy for the patient.
If left untreated, psoriasis will invade new areas.
Diagnostic methods
An experienced specialist who diagnoses and treats dermatological diseases can immediately determine whether a person has psoriasis of the nails. Laboratory tests allow to verify the correctness of the conclusions made. To make a diagnosis, you may need:
- Complete blood count;
- Biopsy or psoriatic balance analysis.
No instrumental diagnosis is required for nail psoriasis.
How to treat nail psoriasis
Nail psoriasis in children and adults requires complex therapy. One tool or procedure for such a diagnosis is not enough. Treatment of psoriasis of the nails located on the hands or feet is standard for all patients. On an individual basis, they are selected drugs and physiotherapy. In addition, the patient will be advised to review their daily diet and make significant adjustments to their normal lifestyle. In fact, the success of the therapeutic course also depends on this.
As soon as a person notices signs of psoriasis of the nails, he should immediately consult a dermatologist. What symptoms will help to identify the disease was discussed above.
Most doctors prescribe topical ointments and systemic tablets
Drug therapy
In a condition such as nail psoriasis, treatment can be done at home. The doctor will prescribe a number of medicines to 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 can be hormonal or non-hormonal. The first are in search of advanced forms of the disease.
Non-hormonal drugs rarely cause side effects and complications. In addition, they are not addictive, unlike the more aggressive preparations for external treatment of the nail plate.
If the patient has a severely affected nail, the doctor will recommend oral medications. He will also tell you how to treat nail psoriasis this way and what dose to follow.
The following medications may be needed for nail psoriasis:
- Immunomodulators (vitamins);
- Antihistamines;
- Soothing.
In most cases, medications are not stopped until the disease subsides.
Physiotherapy
Psoriasis of the fingernails is often treated with physiotherapy. A good result for such violations gives:
- PUVA therapy;
- X-ray therapy;
- UV radiation;
- Ultrasound therapy;
- Laser therapy.
In order for the result to be only positive after the procedures, it is necessary to choose the right number and duration of the physiotherapy sessions. This task should be entrusted to an experienced specialist. Otherwise, the patient who is trying to understand how to treat psoriasis will encounter serious side effects from the treatment.
PUVA therapy is one of the most modern and effective methods.
Proper nail care
In order for the treatment to be as effective as possible, a patient with psoriatic disease must pay attention to proper nail care. The disease seriously injures their plate, so such care will not be superfluous. First of all, it consists in observing the rules of hygiene. Doctors recommend doing the following for this diagnosis:
- Nails should be cut as short as possible;
- When doing household chores, it is advisable to wear protective gloves;
- Avoid work that can hurt the nails and the skin around them;
- You should regularly monitor the cleanliness of the nail plates.
Medical methods will be more effective if, in addition to folk and traditional methods of therapy, the patient adheres to these rules.
In psoriasis, it is especially important to protect your hands from aggressive exposure.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine experts know which plant cures psoriasis affecting the nail plate. They recommend it, like many other herbs, in the preparation of home remedies for the treatment of dermatological diseases.
Patients can use the following folk remedies:
- Celandine broth.To prepare it, you need to pour 0, 5 liters of water 2 tbsp. l. herbs. This mixture should boil over low heat. On average, it should cook for about 30 minutes. Then the broth is made into healing baths, in which the hands and feet are lowered for 20-25 minutes;
- Natural oils.These foods work well for psoriasis. Sea buckthorn oil is especially useful. It moisturizes the skin around the nails and enriches them with useful trace elements. To treat the affected area with oil, you just need to apply it on a cotton swab and then walk it over the plate. It is recommended to repeat the procedure up to 3 times a day;
- Onion compress.It is made from medium onions, which are previously passed through a meat grinder. The resulting slurry is placed on the nails and covered with a bandage of clean gauze. The compress should be left for 30 minutes;
- Decoction of bay leaf.It can also be used during the preparation of healing baths. To make the broth, you need to pour 2 cups of hot water with 20 g of grass. Cook the mixture for no more than 10 minutes. The product is then cooled to a comfortable temperature and the arms or legs are lowered into it. It is also allowed to take such a decoction inside, 40 g three times a day;
- Herbal decoction.For the baths you can prepare a remedy from celandine, chamomile, oak bark, sage and string. They do it the same way as in the previous recipe;
- Herbal infusion.Intended for oral administration. The home remedy is made on the basis of cranberry leaves, St. John's wort, calamus root, celandine and string. The ingredients are taken in equal proportions. The infusion is made from 1 tbsp collection and a glass of boiling water. It is recommended to take 50 g of the drug 2 times a day.
Folk remedies should be used in combination with traditional treatment. Otherwise, they will have no effect.
Therapeutic diet
When the upper layers of a person's skin are affected, poor diet can be blamed. Because of it, the body lacks useful trace elements that support the immune and other systems. And as you know, psoriasis occurs due to failures. Nails affected by psoriasis can be treated with a special diet. Must be hypoallergenic.
The diet of a patient with nail psoriasis should be balanced. It is strongly recommended to exclude foods that can cause allergies. These are chocolate, strawberries, citrus fruits and coffee. You will also have to give up salty, smoked, marinated, spicy and greasy treats. Ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard are prohibited.
During the exacerbation of autoimmune disease, it is recommended to follow a monodiet, which is designed for 1-2 days. Such a diet involves the use of only 1 product. These 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 can cause allergies can also exacerbate psoriasis.
Prevention
It is much easier to try to prevent the development of nail psoriasis than to fight it later. Disease prevention consists of following a number of recommendations:
- You need to include plant foods in your diet;
- You need to give up fried, smoked, pickled and salty foods;
- It is recommended to go regularly to rest in places with a favorable climate for the skin and body as a whole;
- Take vitamin and mineral complexes in courses;
- Avoid damage to the skin and nail plates;
- Timely treatment of infectious diseases.
Remember to take care of your own skin and nails. This is the only way to prevent the development of psoriasis and its recurrence.
Forecast
Psoriasis is one of the diseases that is constantly progressing. Medications and physiotherapy only temporarily stop the development process. No one was able to fully recover. If the patient adheres to the recommendations of a specialist, then he will be able to prevent recurrent damage to the skin and nails.
Complications and consequences
Psoriatic nail lesions should be treated from the first days of its development. If the therapy is absent or is chosen incorrectly, then the patient risks facing the complications and consequences of autoimmune disease.
In nail psoriasis, the cardiovascular system can be severely affected. The vessels are the ones that pose the greatest danger, as pathological changes appear in them under the influence of the disease.
Any form of psoriasis can cause psychological problems. They are directly related to the fact that others rarely treat a person with similar defects on different parts of the body normally. As a result, the patient withdraws, begins to abuse alcohol, he is constantly haunted by a depressed state. Against the background of a disturbed psyche increases the likelihood of malignant processes in skin cells.