Signs, Symptoms, And Treatment Of Nail Psoriasis

Nail psoriasis may affect the nail plate, bed (the tissue under the nail), the matrix (the tissue from which the nail grows), the folds, cuticle, and the bones at the end of the fingers. Signs of nail psoriasis vary according to the part of the fingernail affected and the nature of the deformity.

It is rare that a person develops psoriasis only on the finger or toenails and nowhere else on the body. There are 4 general types of nail psoriasis; these changes may occur alone or simultaneously.

They include:

1. Pitting: A deeply pitted nail caused by the deficiencies in growth due to psoriasis in the nail matrix, characterized by loss of parakeratotic cells from surface of nail plate.


2. Discoloration of the bed (yellow or yellowish pink) resembling drops of oil under the plate, referred to as an "oil drop" or "salmon patch" caused by psoriasis in the nail bed.


3. The appearance of a white area separating and lifting from the nail plate, caused by pockets of air where the bed is lifting from the nail bed. This is referred onycholysis, and may be accompanied by inflamed skin around the cuticle.


4. Crumbling and total loss of the nail due to psoriasis causing weakening of the nail matrix.

Psoriasis of the finger and toenails can resemble other conditions such as chronic fungal infection or inflammation of the nail bed.

Nail Psoriasis Treatments and Preventative measures:

The best treatment for nail psoriasis is proper care of you nails. At this time there is no cure for this disease.

Your goal will be to improve the appearance and the function of your nail. You can do this by keeping your nails trimmed, clean, and filed. If you have fungal infection your doctor will prescribe an OTC (over the counter) anti-fungal medication such as: miconazole (MONISTAT) and clotrimazole (LOTRIMIN, MYCELEX).

Soaking your nails in sea salt bath will moisturize and help thickening nails is also a best practice. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes to not encourage rubbing or irritation.

There are natural ways to treat and cure your psoriasis from the comfort of your home. Preventative maintenance, changing your life style and treating naturally is the real way to take care of and prevent all of the terrible symptoms and debilitating aspects of the psoriasis disease.

Remember this not a skin disease it is an autoimmune disease and you have to cure it from the inside out. Do you really want just a treatment for nail psoriasis or would you rather have you whole body 'Psoriasis Free for Life'?