Nail psoriasis: symptoms and treatment

It can be served with little damage and the spread of psoriatic plaques all over the body – that depends on the severity of the incident, and the forms of the disease and the stage in which it is located. The disease is characterized by the alternation of periods of exacerbations and referring and can last for years, if not decades.

nail psoriasis

The symptoms of nail psoriasis

Despite the fact that the nails of the psoriasis is considered independent of the disease, sometimes manifested as a form of vulgar extensive psoriasis or heralds of his appearance.

Approximately half of the cases there was psoriasis of the nails and skin.

The symptoms of psoriasis of the nails may vary depending on the affected area. Pathological changes of the root (matrix) that affect the length, shape and to some extent the thickness of the plate of the nail, and pathology of bed (a connection layer serving as a base plate) affects mainly the thickness. Given these characteristics, the disease can manifest itself in the following ways:

  • The form of a thimble, which is characterized by the bending and the cloudiness of the plate; thus it becomes like a hook. In the stratum corneum appear grooves and deep point, which is located in a chaotic way. Interestingly, the education in different fingers vary in shape, size and color. The pressure on this "thimble" causes of pain;
  • When the distortion and violation of the integrity of the nail, accompanied by a change of color, and separates it from the base of the finger. Complement this unpleasant image under penetrated peeling nails, air bubbles and dirt mixed with dead epidermal particles;
  • When in relation to the damage to the vessels capillary under your nails appear blue, brown or red translucent spots or stripes, and the plate becomes turbid and changes its appearance, say about psoriasis under the nails. In other words, the dark spots on nails psoriasis is a sign of subungual bleeding. When power effect on the diseased nail it is, perhaps, the appearance of pus.

Of the many other, less common manifestations of the disease we will see when the nail becomes rough and, rough and dull; with painful infiltrates that affect the rollers.

In addition to the physical discomfort and constant pain in combination with itching, psoriasis of the nails of the feet, especially in the nails of psoriasis on the hands, more visible, making the patient a lot of psychological distress and negative emotions because of the bad shape of its own members. This is what makes millions of people on Earth to think about how to cure psoriasis? How to restore the nails to their original condition?

Diagnostic features

It often happens that the diagnosis of psoriasis is complicated by the fact that many of these symptoms are, and other dermatological disorders, in particular some fungal infections. This confusion can arise, for example, if the body of the patient does not have the characteristic of the plates that are used to uniquely judge about the psoriasis.

Now, nail or fungus of psoriasis? How to distinguish between psoriasis of the nail fungus? The main difference lies in the nature of the disease. The fungus is contagious and can easily spread from sick to healthy through direct contact or through the use of common household items. Patients with psoriasis in this sense, not threat.

With regard to the visual or other perceptible differences, there are several. Fungal infections of the scales around the affected nails separate easily from the skin, which is not typical of the initial phase of psoriasis. Next: separation of the nail from the base of psoriasis does not imply that the deformation is not accompanied by pain, such as with candidiasis or fungal infections. Another difference of the psoriasis – not unpleasant odor characteristic of candidiasis.

Psoriatic lesions can be observed in other skin diseases such as pityriasis versicolor, eczema. In addition, it is probable their occurrence and diseases of absolutely "another story" - pulmonary hypertension and cardiac insufficiency, diabetes. Nail psoriasis or may also develop on the background of stress, chronic fatigue, emotional turmoil, receipt of beta-blocking drugs and other medications.

Of course, accurate diagnosis is the prerogative of the specialist. Very often the presence of one and only of the signs of external. it requires the differential diagnosis with the use of additional methods of research. For example, bacterial analysis (seeding) scales of the affected areas, microscopy direct.

All this leads to the conclusion obvious: when the first suspicions of psoriasis of the nails of the fingers or of the feet, you need immediate access to a qualified specialist! Read more about which responsibilities include the treatment of psoriasis on the hands or feet – just below.

Causes of psoriasis of the nails

In medical circles of the psoriasis is one of the most mysterious and do not understand the disease. In spite of this, experts agree that the main reasons by which have the disease, two:

  • Pathological changes in immune processes that prevent the correct cell division and normal in the fermentation of substances. For this reason there is a failure in the development of the epidermis: little developed, separate, begin to grow and multiply, resulting in a thickening of the nail surfaces. The body's response to this pathology is characterized by the inflammation;
  • The genetic factor. Some dermatologists is inclined to put in the first place. The intrigue of the disease lies in the fact that "bad" heredity may be a long time to make themselves felt, and under the influence of factors led to that can occur unexpectedly, contribute to the transformation of the indolent phase of the disease acute.

The most powerful instigators of psoriasis are:

  • Hormonal disorders;
  • Failures in the work of the institutions with a direct impact on the metabolism of the liver, thyroid, digestive tract and others);
  • Deplete the immune system infectious of education;
  • Mechanical damage to the layers of the dermis;
  • Dry and cold conditions in combination with weakened immunity.

The stage of the disease

In the General case of anomalous symptoms, later in the development of psoriasis go through three main stages:

  • The first of them is characterized by the opacity of the nail, there appear transverse or longitudinal strips, grooves, spots;
  • In the second stage, the nail thickens, changes color, buying yellowish, grey color, brown color. Sometimes this is accompanied by manifestations hemorrhagic with the appearance of the bloody stripes, and purulent lesions;
  • In the last stage of the album arise blobs of fat and plaque. Nails completely atrophies and begins to flake off. Often these manifestations negative of the union of several bacterial and fungal infection.

How to treat nail psoriasis?

Treatment of nail psoriasis is a long and laborious process with the use of complex mechanisms. Doctor includes the scheme of the therapy is systemic, taking into account the individual characteristics of a clinical case.

What influences the choice of treatment plan?

the treatment of psoriasis

The main determinants of how to treat psoriasis of the nails of the hands and feet:

  • The clinical picture of the disease and the phase of its flow;
  • The degree of neglect of the disease;
  • The probability of recurrence;
  • The presence of diseases concomitant and related restrictions;
  • The individual tolerance of the patient to certain medications.

The medication

As a general rule, in the initial stages of the disease apply local medications.

Creams and ointments

The majority of drugs that contain corticosteroids, which include tools with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect, as well as the cream. Wide application was found also special varnishes for nail psoriasis. By the way, some dermatologists even consider it as a successful alternative to the comprehensive treatment.

The use of corticosteroids during the risk of nail psoriasis prohibited in viral diseases of the skin, for example, in texas, and in syphilis, tuberculosis. In addition, their disadvantage are possible side effects, such as itching, burning, redness of the skin.

Medicines containing vitamin D3

Its function consists in inhibiting the abnormal division of psoriatic cells. Here also there are contraindications, for example, disorders of calcium in the body. In addition, they are not recommended for children. As an analogue of possible use of coal tar (tar).

Special preparations

Pencil, ointments, and other medications are United by a common ability to inhibit cell proliferation and lead to a permanent weakening of the nails of the psoriasis.

External substances

Different anti-inflammatory, and the inhibition of the division of a defective cell properties .

In addition, the moderation effect on the dead cells has salicylic acid, facilitating their easy extraction, and a 1% solution of 5-fluorouracil (whether in the form of cream) applied in the sale.

We believe it is necessary to emphasize once more that all these medicines have numerous negative effects, to use them only if a medical visit is strictly individual! Self-medication with such drugs can cause irreparable health damage and is strictly prohibited!

Drugs used in the treatment of systemic

The same applies to systemic retinoids, appointed only in the most severe cases and is absolutely contraindicated for pregnant women and for liver diseases.

Comprehensive treatment also requires taking anti-depressants that reduce the itching and have a positive psychological impact, as well as complexes of vitamins and minerals consisting of selenium, zinc, calcium.

Good effect gives physiotherapy – hemosorption, light therapy, diathermy, photochemotherapy. Very efficient health-resort treatment, especially if it is made on the coast.

The use of new biological products

Recent developments special note of monoclonal antibodies that can combine with the cells of the immune system and destroy cells defective psoriatic, drugs with a selective effect and blockers necrosis factors used in the most severe forms. For some of them clinical trials are still in progress.

The use of traditional methods

The best result of the treatment of nail psoriasis remedies popular gives when the disease is starting to develop. Home doctors have always treated patients with psoriasis with all kinds of baths, ointments, lotions, compresses. Here are a few popular recipes for the treatment of nail psoriasis at home:

  • Oatmeal and cornstarch in the amount of two tablespoons, mix in a half liter of warm water and prepared to impose a lotion to the affected areas;
  • Calming effect of the bath on the basis of infusions of oak bark, succession, chamomile, sage, cocklebur;
  • Time-tested therapy with herbal oils before you go to sleep should be lubricated with nails in olive, sunflower, corn oil;
  • Excellent wound-healing effect have aloe and sea buckthorn and agave will help to moisturize the affected area and reduce inflammation;
  • Useful bandages gauze onion, the pulp, applied to the diseased nail.

Treatment of psoriasis of the nails home involves a lot of different ways, with the use of copper sulphate, soda ash, however, in all cases without the consultation of a doctor, you can't do!

Measures of prevention

To combat this insidious and difficult to treat disease always observe the precautions, in particular:

  • Carefully observe the hygiene of the hands and feet;
  • To protect hands and feet from direct contact with the chemicals;
  • To prevent hypothermia and infections taking care of your own immune system;
  • To protect the nail plate from mechanical damage;
  • Observe caution when using tools of manicure, do not use artificial materials for the nails and the therapeutic use of antibacterial varnishes;
  • Take special care during exacerbations of the disease, attention, including, on a diet - with the exception of the diet of fatty, starchy, sugary foods. The menu must keep fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, dairy products, liver.

Remember! The worst enemies of the therapy are alcohol and tobacco!

Irrevocably psoriasis does not go away. Even when it seems that your symptoms are no longer present, the risk of relapse a continuing basis. Unfortunately, we have to say: psoriasis is a disease that must be tolerated for life. Another thing is that adhering to a healthy lifestyle and following medical instructions, a high probability of increasing the duration of periods of up to decades!

17.09.2018