It's sometimes mistaken for a fungus because the nails may be discolored and brittle. But some signs make it possible to determine if it’s nail psoriasis. For example, when someone has a psoriasis flare-up in their nails, they usually have a rash as well.
Does nail psoriasis ever go away? Yes and no – there are times when the symptoms are in remission. If you get treatment for psoriasis nails, it helps manage flare-ups.
Let’s talk about how to treat psoriasis nails.
What Is the Best Treatment for Nail Psoriasis?
There are various medications for psoriasis nails. Many of them suppress the immune system because psoriasis is an autoimmune disease.
First, the doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid cream or nail polish that needs to be applied twice a day. It may take four months or longer to make a visible difference.
If things aren’t improving, someone with nail psoriasis may get injections in the skin around the nails. These include immunosuppressants like adalimunab.
There are also oral immunosuppressant medications like methotrexate that help with nail psoriasis.
However, there are alternatives like laser therapy and phototherapy plus a drug called psoralen.
What Are Nail Psoriasis Symptoms?
The first thing someone might notice with psoriasis nails is that the nail bed changes color. Instead of a healthy pink, it may turn brown or yellow.
The surface of the nail may develop horizontal grooves and little pits. Then the nail may start to peel and crumble. Due to all this damage, the nail is more susceptible to a fungal infection.
What Triggers Nail Psoriasis?
Whenever your immune system overreacts to stimuli, it can cause a psoriasis flare. Triggers include hormonal changes, injury, sunburn, stress, or illness. Unfortunately, psoriasis nails are common if you already have psoriatic arthritis or psoriasis skin issues.
How to Prevent Psoriasis Nails?
Even living a super healthy lifestyle doesn’t guarantee that a person will never have nail psoriasis. It tends to come and go. However, there are some things you can do to help manage it at home.
Home Remedies for Psoriasis Nails
Soaking in warm water with Dead Sea salt for 10 minutes at a time can help reduce symptoms of nail psoriasis. Applying aloe vera gel to the nails and skin around them might also improve things. Basically, natural ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties help manage flares.
Moreover, if the nails are already damaged, just remember that they will grow out!
Take care of them in the meantime:
- Keep your hands and nails clean with soap and water to prevent infections.
- Keep the nails trimmed and remove hangnails safely. Cuticle nippers are handy for this.)
- Moisturize the skin and nails with hand cream and cuticle oil.
- Wear gloves when washing the dishes or working outside.
- Strengthen the nails with nail hardener polish. (See below.)
- If desired, make the nails look nicer with a buffer block and nail polish.
Since we’ve had so many people asking about it, here are home treatments for nail psoriasis.
Tools for Taking Care of Nail Psoriasis
Protect yourself against infection by having your own manicure kit. Take the time to clean and sanitize the tools with a 10-minute soak in rubbing alcohol. This will prevent nail psoriasis from turning into a fungal infection.
Manicure Travel Kit
This cute little kit is absolutely packed with manicure tools. It comes with clippers, cuticle nippers, scissors, a cuticle pusher, tweezers, a nail file, and much more. You can even choose the color of the storage case.
Once you’ve got your nails trimmed, keep your hands and nails moisturized, too. It’s not hard to do if you have the right products.
24k Gold Nail & Cuticle Oil
Psoriasis nails tend to be dry, fragile, and flaky. Rehydrate them and the skin around them with hyaluronic acid plus essential oils and 24-karat gold. Unlike other cuticle oils, this brand absorbs rapidly to avoid greasy fingers. It leaves the skin and nails brighter, smoother, and stronger.
Voesh - Collagen Gloves with Argan Oil
If your skin and nails are extra-dry, give them an intensive treatment with these collagen gloves. They are enriched with argan oil which is a natural anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. It helps with itchiness, redness, and swelling. Just fifteen minutes of wearing them can make a noticeable difference.
BCL Critical Repair Cream
This excellent hand cream was designed especially for hairstylists because they spend all day with their hands exposed to shampoo and water. But the moisturizer quickly caught on with other professions as well as people with psoriasis and dry skin.
What’s nice is that the cream stops the itching and smooths over the cracks without making the skin feel greasy. It’s packed with antioxidants for rapid healing, too.
We mentioned that you can fortify psoriasis nails with the right nail polish. We’d like to recommend these options for gels, acrylics, and nail lacquer:
LDS Gel Strengthener
Formulated especially for fragile nails and gel manicures, this strengthener polish provides reinforcement and better adhesion for polish on top. It’s compatible with all brands of gel polish. Apply it after the base coat or color gel.
Gentle Prime Nail Primer for Sensitive Nails
If you do acrylics, this mildly acidic primer is gentler than other options.
OPI Nail Envy Lacquer
It may be advantageous to use lacquer instead of gels or acrylics during a psoriasis flare. Nail Envy is a clear coat lacquer that can be worn alone or as a base coat under a colored polish.
When you use it to harden your nails, be sure to apply two coats to start. Then, apply another coat every other day for a week.
After one week, remove the lacquer with a gentle polish remover and repeat the process for another week.
Conclusion
Once you’re getting treatment for psoriasis nails, try to be patient. It takes weeks or even months to see a difference. In the meantime, there are several things you can do to take good care of your nails and make them look better. Keep them trimmed, moisturized, and protected with a strengthener polish. Hang in there and have fun – you can still enjoy a beautiful manicure!