If you have psoriasis, there is a chance you may have nail psoriasis at some point as well. Statistics show 80-90% of people who have psoriasis will develop nail psoriasis at some point in their lives. It is a painful condition which can stop you from being able to live and enjoy your life as you normally would. Knowing this, you are going to want to know how to deal with it once it arises so as to minimize any damage and relieve yourself of unnecessary pain.
Firstly you’ll want to look out for the signs that you actually have nail psoriasis. There are several things you must look out for.
1. Pitting of the nails – Your nails will develop slight depressions or holes
2. Discoloration of the nails – You may notice that your nails become shades of yellow and pink
3. Crumbling of the nails – The nail itself in this case begins to break down. Your nail will eventually become brittle and easier to break
4. Separation of the nails – You may notice that your nails begin to separate from your nail bed at different points
If you see the beginnings of any of these symptoms, you may be seeing the onset of nail psoriasis. It is important that you take the proper steps to minimize further damage and to treat the existing symptoms. Here are some of the ways you can do so:
1. Trim your nails so that you reduce the risk of you injuring them. If you happen to bump your nail or cause any trauma to it, your condition may worsen. This is especially important for women who usually keep their nails long.
2. Try soaking your fingernails/toenails to soften them up, then follow up with a good moisturizer. Additionally if you notice your nails have thickened, you can use an emery board to gently file your nails down after they have soaked.
3. Limit any pressure being applied to your fingernails/toenails as well as friction. This would cause your toenails to thicken. If you have nail psoriasis on your toenails, make sure you wear properly fitted shoes.
4. Nail hardeners can be used to increase the strength of brittle nails.
5. Artificial nails can be used to improve the look of damaged nails (This is more of an option for the women). However if your particular case is extreme, you can talk to your doctor about getting your nails removed and replaced with more aesthetically pleasing artificial nails.
If you take these measures you’ll minimize any further damage. You should also follow up with proper treatment. There are plenty of treatment options you can find online for both your psoriasis and nail psoriasis.
