One of the varieties of a dermatological disease that occurs in a chronic form is nail psoriasis. It may concern an adult or a child if there are suitable factors for its spread. The disease has many similarities to common psoriasis, as it is also characterized by the pathological layer of cells on top of each other, as a result of which there is a strong deformation of the nail plates.
Causes of the disease
Some people think that psoriasis of the fingernails or toenails occurs in the presence of severe stress. Although it has been scientifically proven that strong emotional experiences are not able to lead to such changes. Therefore, they can not be considered as the main cause of the development of the disease. Doctors identify 2 factors that can actually lead to a pathological process:
- Disruption of the immune system,which is responsible for the formation of healthy cells and the fermentation of substances. Such changes do not allow skin particles to fully develop. They begin to grow and overlap. The result is a thickening of the nail plates;
- Predisposition to the development of psoriasis.In most patients, the tendency to develop pathology is natural in the genes. It wakes up immediately after the body is negatively affected by several factors.
Several factors can lead to disease activation:
- Hormonal failure;
- 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 on the hands or feet develops along with skin lesions.
Psoriasis can only affect the nails or other parts of the body.
The first signs of psoriasis on the nails of the hands and feet
Nail lesions in psoriasis can be recognized by the characteristic symptoms of this condition. They begin to bother a person from the first days of disease development. Common signs of a pathological process include:
- Scratches and grooves on the surface of nail plates;
- Change the nail color to a darker one;
- Inflammatory process along the edge of the nails;
- Itching felt on the skin of the fingers.
If treatment is not started in the initial stage of the disease, it will continue to grow and its clinical manifestations will become more pronounced.
Stages of the disease
What does nail psoriasis look like, you can find out if you carefully study the picture 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, in which healthy tissue is affected.
Doctors distinguish 3 main stages of the course of nail psoriasis:
- Progressive.At this stage, the nail begins to be covered with small dots, which are painted a white or yellow brown. 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 the affected area, but its surface is gradually peeling off;
- Stationary.Dots stop appearing on nails. Along with this, inflammatory processes slow down. However, the discomfort or pain persists. Sometimes at this stage, the skin near the plaques is covered with characteristic rash of the disease. It itself becomes very dry;
- Regressive.Previously formed rashes are actively disappearing. White edges appear near the lesions. As a rule, at this stage of psoriasis development, patients suffer from unbearable itching.
By observing the development of a disease, doctors should already 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 if a person has nail psoriasis. Laboratory studies can be used to verify the correctness of the conclusions. To make a diagnosis, you may need:
- Complete blood count;
- Analysis of biopsy or psoriatic scales.
Instrumental diagnosis for nail psoriasis is not required.
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 for psoriasis of the nails located on the hands or feet is standard for all patients. On an individual basis, they are selected medications and physiotherapy. Furthermore, the patient will be advised to review his daily diet and make important adjustments to his usual lifestyle. After all, the success of the therapeutic course also depends on this.
As soon as a person notices signs of nail psoriasis, he should immediately consult a dermatologist. What kind of symptoms will help to recognize the disease was discussed above.
Most doctors prescribe topical oils and systemic tablets
Drug therapy
For a condition like nail psoriasis, treatment can be done at home. The doctor will prescribe a number of medications to be taken orally or applied to the affected areas.
In the early stages of dermatological pathology, a local agent should be used. Ointments and creams can be hormonal or non-hormonal. The former are required for advanced forms of the disease.
Non-hormonal medications rarely cause side effects and complications. In addition, they do not lead to addiction, in contrast to the more aggressive preparations for the external treatment of nail plate.
If a patient has a severely affected nail disease, the doctor will recommend oral medication. He will also show you how to treat nail psoriasis this way and what dosage to follow.
The following medications may be needed for nail psoriasis:
- Immunomodulators (vitamins);
- Antihistamines;
- Sedatives.
In most cases, the medication is not stopped until the disease has subsided.
Physiotherapy
Psoriasis of the fingernails is often treated with physiotherapy. A good result for such violations is given by:
- 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 correctly choose the number and duration of physiotherapy sessions. This task should be entrusted to an experienced professional. Otherwise, the patient who is trying to figure out how to cure psoriasis will encounter serious side effects of the procedural 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 should pay attention to proper nail care. The disease severely damages their plaque, 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 could damage the nails and the skin around them;
- You should regularly monitor the cleanliness of your nail plates.
Medical methods will be more effective if, in addition to popular and traditional methods of therapy, the patient follows 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 that affects the nail plate. They recommend it, like many other herbs, when preparing home remedies for treating dermatological disease.
Patients can use the following folk remedies:
- Celandine soup.To prepare it, you need to pour 0, 5 liters of water 2 tbsp. lbarishteThis mixture should boil over low heat. On average, it should cook for about 30 minutes. After that, medicinal baths are made from broth, in which the arms and legs sit for 20-25 minutes;
- Natural oils.These foods work well with psoriasis. Buckthorn oil is especially beneficial. Moisturizes the skin around the nails and enriches them with beneficial trace elements. To treat the oily affected area, you simply need to place it on a cotton pad and then pass it over the plate. It is recommended to repeat the procedure up to 3 times a day;
- Onion squeezing.Made from a medium onion, which is first passed through a meat grinder. The resulting woman is placed on the nails and covered with a clean gauze bandage. Compression should be left for 30 minutes;
- Decoction with laurel leaves.Can also be used in the preparation of medicinal baths. To make a soup, 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 hands or feet are lowered into it. It is also permissible to take such a decoction inside, 40 g three times a day;
- Herbal decoction.For baths, you can prepare a remedy from celandine, chamomile, oak bark, sage and string. Do the same as in the previous recipe;
- Herbal infusion.intended for oral administration. Home remedies are based on the leaves of cranberry, St. John's wort, calamus root, celandine and string. 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 conjunction with traditional treatments. Otherwise, they will have no effect.
Therapeutic diet
When the upper layers of a person's skin are affected, poor nutrition can be blamed. Because of it, the body lacks useful trace elements that support immunity and other systems. And as you know, due to failures, psoriatic disease occurs. 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 lead to allergies. These are chocolate, strawberries, citrus fruits and coffee. You will also need to give up salty, smoked, pickled, spicy and fatty treatments. Ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard are prohibited.
During periods of exacerbation of an autoimmune disease, it is recommended to follow a mono-diet, which is established for 1-2 days. Such nutrition involves the use of only 1 product. They can be apples, kefir, fish or cereals.
A therapeutic diet should be enriched with fermented dairy products, fruits, vegetables, herbs and lean fish.
Foods that can cause allergies can also make psoriasis worse.
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 should include plant foods in your diet;
- Refrain from fried, smoked, pickled and salted foods is required;
- It is advisable to regularly go to rest in places with favorable climate for the skin and the body as a whole;
- Take vitamin and mineral complexes in courses;
- Avoid damaging skin and nail plates;
- Treat infectious diseases in a timely manner.
Remember to take care of your skin and nails. This is the only way to protect yourself from developing psoriasis and its recurrences.
Prediction
Psoriasis is one of the diseases that progresses all the time. Medication and physical therapy only temporarily stop the development process. No single person 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 therapy is lacking or chosen incorrectly, then the patient risks facing the complications and consequences of an autoimmune disease.
With nail psoriasis, the cardiovascular system can be severely affected. It is the vessels that threaten the greatest danger, as pathological changes occur in them under the influence of disease.
Any form of psoriasis can cause psychological problems. They are directly related to the fact that others rarely normally associate with a person with similar defects in different parts of the body. Because of this, the patient withdraws into himself, begins to abuse alcohol, he is constantly followed by a depressive state. Against the background of a disturbed psyche, the likelihood of the appearance of malignant processes in skin cells increases.