Skin and Nail Care

If you have psoriasis, you probably know about the skin symptoms, such as red patches of itchy, scaly skin (also called psoriatic plaques). You may have also noticed a lifting, pitting, and crumbling of the fingernails and toenails. But there are treatments for and ways to manage skin and nail symptoms.

Skin care

Keeping the skin clean and moisturizing and exfoliating it regularly can help to relieve symptoms of psoriasis. Take lukewarm baths, and use soap that is made from fats and oils or that contains moisturizing oils. Apply a heavy, oil-based moisturizer to your skin after baths to prevent dry skin and reduce scaling.

Moderate sun exposure can also help alleviate psoriasis symptoms. Just make sure you always apply a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 to your skin, since too much sun can cause a burn. Not only does sunburn increase your risk for skin cancer, but it can also trigger skin symptoms.

For psoriasis of the scalp, there are medicated shampoos available, either over-the-counter or by prescription from your dermatologist. Such shampoos typically contain coal tar or cortisone, though some contain salicylic acid.

Nail care

Nail changes due to psoriasis may include pitting, crumbling, changes in shape, and a yellow or brown discoloration of the nail. Onycholysis, a lifting or separating of the nail from the nail bed, is another nail symptom caused by psoriasis.

Some methods of managing nail symptoms include scraping and filing deformed nails and covering discolored nails with nail polish.

Here are some tips for caring for your nails:

• Protect hands and feet. Whether you are gardening, exercising, cleaning, or washing dishes, protect your nails by wearing gloves and shoes. You can buy gloves specifically made for gardening, household chores, biking, and even lifting heavy objects. There are also water shoes available to wear at the beach or in the water.
• Keep nails groomed. Make sure your fingernails and toenails are kept short. They should be cut and filed down regularly.
• Keep the area around the nail clean. The nail symptoms caused by psoriasis can leave nails vulnerable to bacterial and fungal infections. Crumbling and separating nails may expose the nail bed to abrasions, cuts, or injury. Therefore, it is very important to keep nails clean. Hands and feet should be washed with an oil-based soap that contains a moisturizer, and hands, feet, and the area around your nails should also be dried thoroughly.

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