2Nail Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common skin condition in which the person suffers from raised patches of red skin with silvery scales. The affected skin can look shiny and red and, depending upon the area affected, can have pustules. The skin which is affected usually occurs on the elbows, knees, scalp and trunk. Approximately 150,000 to 260,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

Another area that can be affected are the nails. Most people who have psoriasis of the nails or nail beds also have psoriasis of the skin and only 5 percent of people with psoriasis of the nails do not have psoriasis of the skin. In people who have psoriasis of the skin between 10 percent and 55 percent also have psoriatic nail disease.

Psoriasis is not contagious. Psoriasis of the nails can be due to a combination of genetic, environmental or immune factors. Researchers believe that there is a genetic link because there is a familial aggregation of psoriasis and recent studies have linked it with certain human leukocyte antigen subtypes. If you have a parent or sibling who have psoriasis you have a 16 percent to 25 percent chance of developing it also. If both of your parents have it your risk increases to 75 percent. Both men and women are equally at risk for development of psoriasis.

The area of the nail is made up of the nail plate, nailbed, nail matrix, nail folds, cuticle, hyponychium and anchoring portion. People who have psoriasis of the nails will notice a clear yellow red discoloring that looks like a drop of blood or oil under the nail plate. Your doctor can refer to this as a salmon patch and it is a sign that you have nail psoriasis.

Individuals who suffer from nail psoriasis will also have pitting of the nails that develop when the cells are lost from the nail surface. Individuals will also develop lines going across the nails from side to side that is a response to psoriasis by becoming inflamed. These are called Beau lines of the nail. The skin under the nail will also thicken which can lead to loosening of the nail.

Individuals who experience nail psoriasis will find that their nails will loosen and may fall off. Your nail can develop a white area where it separated from the skin underneath and it usually starts at the tip of the nail and extends towards the root. Unfortunately because the nail has loosened bacteria can invade and the skin under the nail, nailbed, can become infected.

As the nail weakens because the underlying structures are not healthy it may begin to crumble. Tiny capillaries in the tip of the fingers bleed between the nail in the skin causing tiny black lines in tip to cuticle direction. These are called splinter hemorrhages or dilated capillaries in the dermal papillae.

Redness of the pale arched area at the bottom of the nail is called spotted lunula and happens when the capillaries are congested. Individuals who suffer from nail psoriasis are 53 percent to 86 percent more likely to develop psoriatic arthritis which is a form of arthritis that affects the joints.

Individuals can develop nail psoriasis concurrent with a fungal infection of the nail and inflammation of the skin around the edges of the nail.

Presently there is no cure for psoriasis of the nail but there are treatment protocols which can help to decrease the amount of damage that the psoriasis can do to the function and appearance of the nails. Your physician can also help to treat secondary fungal infections or bacterial infections which can damage further of the integrity of the nail in nailbed.

It is important to see your physician when you notice changes in your nails such as discoloration, pitting or if the nails seem infected or are painful. Your doctor will talk with you about some of the different treatment protocols which are available to you and also give few recommendations for self-care at home. Individuals will find that gently trimming the nail back to where the skin is connected will help the medications to work better and that by doing all nail care gently they will decrease the risk of the psoriasis flaring up.

Some individuals have found that soaking the nail can help using three capsules of tar bath oil and a bowl of warm water. Soaking for 20 minutes and then rubbing moisturizer onto the nail can help to decrease the inflammation and damage to the nail. If psoriasis is a problem on the toenails remember to wear roomy shoes to help avoid friction that can cause the toenails to thicken.

Individuals with psoriasis of the nails should also work hard to avoid injuring the nails so they aren\’t loosened more from the nailbed and the area does not become infected with either bacteria or fungus. Your doctor may recommend that a part of the nail be removed in order to help the healing process.

Treatment protocols will include things such as creams or ointments containing vitamin A or vitamin D and occasionally anti-fungal solutions if there is a fungus presence. Light therapy is also used as it is in systemic psoriasis.

Psoriatic nail disease is a condition that causes embarrassment and discomfort for the sufferer. Unfortunately there is no cure at this time but there are treatment protocols that can help to decrease the damage, pain and suffering as well as restore the nail for long periods of time.