Nail Psoriasis

Nail Psoriasis

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis (Ps) is a long-term (chronic) scaling disease of the skin, which affects 2% –
3% of the UK population. It appears as red, raised scaly patches known as plaques. Any part of the skin surface may be involved but the plaques most commonly appear on the elbows, knees and scalp. It can be itchy but is not usually painful. Nail changes are present in 50% of people and 10%-20% of people will develop psoriatic arthritis.

What happens?

Normally a skin cell matures in 21 – 28 days and during this time it travels to the surface, where it is lost in a constant invisible shedding of dead cells. In patches of psoriasis the turnover of skin cells is much faster, around 4 – 7 days, and this means that even live cells can reach the surface and accumulate with dead cells. The extent of psoriasis and how it affects an individual varies from person to person. Some may be mildly affected with a tiny patch hidden away on an elbow which does not bother them while others may have large visible areas of skin involved that significantly affect daily life and relationships. This process is the same wherever it occurs on the body. Psoriasis is not contagious.

Introduction

Psoriasis can affect both finger nails and the toe nails. The percentage of those with psoriasis who have nail involvement is thought to be 50%. In psoriatic arthritis this may rise to 80%. For some unknown reason the finger nails are more often involved than toe nails.

What is nail psoriasis?

The nails are part of the skin so it is perhaps not surprising that a skin disease such as psoriasis can affect the nails. No one knows why some people get nail involvement and others don’t.

Nails grow from the nail plate which is just under the cuticle. In people who develop psoriasis of the nails it is involvement of the nail plate that causes pitting and ridging of the nails. Onycholysis, subungual hyperkeratosis and splinter haemorrhages are due to disease of the nail bed.

Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance

A principal source of information on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

The nail itself is totally inert, being composed of modified, tightly packed dead skin cells, and therefore any treatment must be directed to the nail plate itself or the nail bed. The severity of nail involvement does not follow the severity of psoriasis elsewhere in the body. Rarely, the nails can be the only site of the body affected. More usually, if the nails are involved there will be areas of psoriasis elsewhere on the body. You can, however, develop severe nail changes with only minimal psoriasis elsewhere on the body.

What changes can occur?

A number of changes can occur in nail psoriasis, and these are the most common:

Pitting of the nails – the surface of the nail develops small pits looking rather like the surface of a thimble. The number of pits is variable from one to dozens.

Onycholysis – this is where the nail becomes detached from the underlying nail bed and a gap develops under the nail. When it starts there is a white or yellowish patch at the tip of the nail, and this then extends down to the cuticle. The gap between the nail and the nail bed can become colonised by particular bacteria, such as pseudomonas which can then produce a black pigment. The nail can become infected and discoloured and can cause considerable alarm when mistaken for melanoma under the nail.

Subungual hyperkeratosis – this is where you develop an accumulation of chalky material under the nail. The nail becomes raised up and can become tender, especially when the surface of the nail is pressed. This can become particularly troublesome on toe nails where the nail may be pressed by shoes, causing considerable discomfort.

Discolouration – This may be seen as unusual nail colouration, such as yellowbrown.

Onychomycosis – is a fungal infection that can cause thickening of the nails. This
could be present alongside nail psoriasis, and can be confused in diagnosis. If this is
present and diagnosed correctly it can be treated with systemic anti-fungal medication.

It is estimated that approximately 35% of people who have nail psoriasis involvement may also have a fungal infection that could cause or worsen their psoriasis. Therefore treating the fungus or the fungal infection may not have any affect on the clearance of nail psoriasis.

Some nail changes that are caused by using systemic retinoid medication which can help the skin but may result in formation of very thin nails which do not appear normal in appearance. These nail changes can take several months to grow out only after retinoids are stopped.

In addition to these changes you may get longitudinal ridging of the nails and reddish
marks under the nails called splinter haemorrhages due to tiny burst blood vessels
under the nails.

What can be done about it?

Nail psoriasis is perhaps the most difficult part of psoriasis to treat. In the past a large number of treatments have been tried, none of which have given particularly good results. These include:

Injections of steroids under the nail – these are extremely painful and generally do not work.

Removal of the nail – nails can be removed quite painlessly using a high concentration
of urea applied under polythene occlusion to the nail. The nail becomes rather jelly like and can be peeled off. Nails can also be surgically removed or removed by X-ray therapy. In general the nails tend to grow back abnormally.

The use of topical steroids rubbed into the cuticle – the nail plate is under the cuticle and by massaging steroid creams into the nail plate you can induce some improvement in nail psoriasis. This is not consistent however, and there is the risk that the cuticle can become thinned with thread veins over the surface.

Anecdotally a number of dermatologists noticed that psoriasis of the nails improved when patients were using vitamin D analogue preparations for psoriasis of their skin. This led to a more focused study of vitamin D analogue creams and ointments rubbed into the cuticle in the treatment of nail psoriasis. Experience from around the world has shown that this is an effective line of treatment and should be regarded as the first-line treatment of choice. The vitamin D analogue cream or ointment should be massaged into the cuticle for about five minutes twice a day. When onycholoysis is present, calcipotriol scalp solution can be dripped under the nail and massaged in, which is effective.

Remember that nails grow extremely slowly and what you are influencing is not the existing nail but new nail that is developing from the nail plate. It may, therefore take up to a year for finger nails, and two years for toe nails to grow out normally. So you must be patient with any treatment because of the slowness of growth, so any benefits from such treatments you apply may take up to a year or more to be seen.

Is there anything else I can do?

Nails on the hand in psoriasis can be painful and often restricts dexterity of the fingers. If the toe nails are affected attention and care from a chiropodist may be helpful and may be able to pare down the nail to remove the pressure from excess thickening of the nails to remove the pressure from the wearing of shoes thus reducing pain and improving mobility.

It can also be a cosmetic problem. The nails are distorted and this can be embarrassing. Nail varnish can be used to conceal some of the damage. Application of a good nail hardener or artificial nails if the nails are mostly intact can improve their appearance and also aids to protect them. Be careful to avoid sensitivities to glues with chemicals that may be used to apply artificial nails. It is always advisable to tell your manicurist about your psoriasis so that he/she can be extra careful.

Tips on general nail care

The basic strategy for both hands and feet should be to keep the nails short. Try to
trim them back to the point of firm attachment and gently file them down with an emery board.

Try to protect your nails from damage because this can worsen the problem. Consider wearing gloves to protect your nails whenever you are doing something that may damage your nails.

Rubbing moisturizers into the nail and cuticle or soaking them in emollient oils may
help.

If your nails are pitted but mainly intact, nail hardeners or artificial nails may improve their appearance. It is a sensible precaution to rule out the possibility of any sensitivity to glues and chemicals by first applying a small sample to the skin.

Toe nails can benefit by being soaked for at least 10 minutes in a bowl or bath of
warm water which softens the nails before gently filing the thickened part of the toe
nails with an emery board, and using good sharp scissors to trim off small pieces of the nails. You should cut straight across the toe nail, which helps it from becoming ingrown. It helps to always wear comfortable shoes, which gives room for the toes, avoiding any friction to the toe nails causing thickening to occur. It may be of benefit to consider when buying shoes to select a size up from your normal size.

Always consult a doctor or your healthcare provider.

This article has been prepared by the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance and should
not be used as a replacement for advice from your doctor. You are strongly advised to
speak to your doctor or health care provider if you think you are affected by any
conditions or items mentioned in this article.

Cultivating and Maintaining Healthy Nails

Cultivating and Maintaining Healthy Nails

The condition of nails reflect the quality of tissue production in the body as nails are considered to be the waste product of bones (asthi dhatu) Healthy nails are pink,smooth and evenly shaped. Healthy nails are often a sign of good health, while bad nails are often a tip off to more serious problems. Dermatologists say healthy nails are an important part of overall health. The steps in cultivating and maintaining healthy nails are quite simple.

Many less than desirable nail conditions can be avoided through proper care, but some actually indicate an illness that requires attention. But a little basic nail care can go a long way to keeping your nails in healthy condition. Keep nails on the shorter side, which are easier to care for. Soak toenails if they are thick or difficult to cut, if you are diabetic, you may need a health care professional to help with trimming diseased nails. Like a great new haircut or a terrific skin care regimen, healthy, well-manicured nails are an integral part of a neat, pulled-together appearance– one that can work as an asset in both the social and the business world.

Also nails can reveal a lot about the body’s internal health like healthy nails are often a sign of good health that may require high protein diet while bad nails often shows sign of serious health problems. Toenail fungus is a living organism that thrives in dark, damp environments such as under and around nails. Nail Fungus is a tough condition to have, not only it damages your nail, but it is also an embarrassing problem that affects around 13% of people across America.

Nail fungus is more popular among old adults for several reasons, including decreased blood circulation, much years of vulnerability to fungi and because nails may rise more slowly and thicken with aging, making them more vulnerable to transmission. Having realistic expectations about how long it will take to get rid of nail fungus is as important as following your doctor’s instructions. In our view, Zeta Clear is the first and best option for natural nail fungus treatment.

There are several nail problems that are caused due to hereditary factors, lack of proper care, negligence and vitamin and protein deficiencies in your diet. After diet, stress is the next important factor causing nail problems. Minerals, calcium, vitamins all are the essential components of our balanced diet. Consume a high fiber diet with plenty of green leafy vegetables and reduce your weight if you are overweight. If you are concerned that your diet may not be balanced and healthy you should consult a medical or nutritional professional.

Toenails are a great indicator of the health of your feet. Toenails of people of all ages can undergo a range of changes, some of which are relatively common. Major toenail problem culprits are incorrectly fitting shoes, which press too tightly on the toenails. The main nutritional tip of nail care is to acquire plenty of vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B12, as all these works on your finger and toenails. The fungi that cause onychomycosis affect the toenails about four times more often than fingernails and, like many organisms that cause disease, they grow where it’s warm and moist. Most often, nail fungus appears in the toenails because socks and shoes keep the toenails dark, warm, and moist.

There are many natural remedies and supplements, which can be helpful for you to give natural nail care. These are some of the vitamins and proteins which can be helpful for you to get healthy nail care. There are many Herbal care products in the market, which ensures healthy nails. Zeta Clear Nail Care includes the concentrated essence of a substance, which creates a relieving effect on our nails and toes and brings about the desired effect. Apply the Zeta Clear with brush applicator to affected nail three times per day as or as your health care provide suggests.

If you have it, flaunt it with beautiful and attractive nails

If you have it, flaunt it with beautiful and attractive nails

It is an open secret that women and fashion are synonymous; either fashion follows women or vice-versa. In modern times people, especially women have become more conscious not only about their dressing, shoe style and make up, but have started giving importance to the nail picture and nail care products. Now-a-days men and women do share the same view of maintaining beauty and health of nails. The importance of nail care products is equally significant as of hair products and other beauty products.

All over the world, women fashionistas have embraced nail art design and nail art products as an important and valuable fashion statement in the line of other fashion accessories and treatment like bleaching, pedicure, manicure, waxing and many other fashion trendy items. Shapely and beautiful nails enhance the overall beauty of a woman, it helps them to stand out in the crowd that is the only reason it cannot be ignored or given a second thought.

Besides nail polish, nail art stickers and nail art photos in vogue has changed the mind of million women, as now precisely can be said that they have started taking care of even minute things for their beauty. Now you can get nail polish in many varieties and color of your desire. Beauticians and cosmetologists affiliated to different beauty and nail care products have introduced many different nail care accessories like acrylic nail art, nail art design, nail art pictures, nail art stickers, nail art canes, false nails, ladies finger nail, French nail tip, nail cuticle, nail manicure, nail pedicure and many other nail related beauty product.

Traders and nail art supply are available in the market who supplies professional nail care products in both the areas i.e. retail nail products and wholesale nail products; they have the expertise and experience to give great value nail products in very competitive and affordable prices. They also supply other tools including drill tool for piercing the nail, nail art videos, display nails, nail art paints for use on natural nails, nail extensions opalescent paints with nail art brushes and color shapers. Women fashionistas in order to look beautiful and feminine they may add a finishing touch to nail design with nail art sealers, foils and striping tape, glitters, iridescent flakes, studs and pearls can also be utilized to make the nail more attractive.

These nail care products along with the various nail care accessories are ideal to give your nails a gleaming touch within a short time period.

Beauty Tips – Care For Troubled Nails

Beauty Tips – Care For Troubled Nails

Do your nails constantly flake, tear and chip? Are you tired of them catching on the threads of your favorite shirts? Sick of getting manicures, only to have one of your nails get ruined within an hour? It doesn’t always have to be like this. Even if you inherited bad nails from your parents, there are lots of steps that you can take to keep them strong, healthy and beautiful. Today it is easier to maintain good nails with all the various formulas and products around to give you a helping hand. And unbelievably you don’t need a manicure too keep your nails in good condition. There are various things you can do to keep your nails in good condition.

First, step away from the nail polish! No one wants to hear it, but the fact is, if you have severely dry or weak fingernails that tend to crack, you shouldn’t be using nail polish on a regular basis. Nail polish removers contain alcohol, which draws necessary moisture out of your already-dry nails, making them more vulnerable to splitting. So only use nail polish on an occasional basis, to minimize remover usage. So the lesson to learn here is to limit if not discontinue the use of nail polish until you get the condition of your nails back on track.

That doesn’t mean that your nails can’t have a nice shine, though. Buffing your nails instead of polishing them gives your nails the same glow that you would get from a clear polish, but without the negative side effects. Just buy yourself a simple three-step buffer, and shine to your heart’s content. Amazingly a nail buffer works wonders for your nails. Your nails can actually start looking better than they ever were. However a nail buffers should not be used regularly rather they should be used after regular intervals.

There are other simple steps that you can take to protect the balance of moisture in your nails. Wearing gloves while you wash dishes, or during any other activity that might allow your nails to soak, helps protect them from drying out. Using a heavy hand moisturizer also helps, by restoring a little moisture to nails that are already dry. And with nails, like with the rest of you, diet counts big. Having a protein-rich diet, complete with folic acids, supplies your body with the right building-blocks for healthy nails. Give your body what it wants, and it will give you what you want.

Finally, normal day-to-day nail care procedures help keep damaged nails healthy. Don’t let your nails grow too long; it might look nice, but if you have weak nails, it just makes them more vulnerable to breakage. Instead, be in charge of your nail length. Keep them trimmed closer to the finger, and keep them trimmed to the same length. Use a file to rub down rough edges- not only does this help prevent tearing caused by rough snags catching on fabric, but it allows you to shape your nails however you like. And never, ever bite. It doesn’t look good, and it’s bad for your teeth. Follow these steps, and your nails- and your sweaters’ will thank you!

Your nails play an important way in the way your hand looks. A set of good nails will make you look and feel dashing.

Should You Take A Dog Grooming Course?

Should You Take A Dog Grooming Course?

You may have not even considered the benefits of taking a dog grooming course, but knowing exactly how to care for your dog’s appearance properly is beneficial to both of you. Your dog will feel loved and healthy and you will appreciate the fact that your dog is clean and groomed.

One really important part of dog care is grooming, not only for health, but it can allow you to keep in close contact with your dog, and to check for any issues that may require veterinary assistance. For example, you are brushing your dog and find a lump on his/her side – you know immediately that you should have it checked out. If you never brush your dog, you would not discover something like this until it was most likely too late.

If you are interested in taking a course on dog grooming, you have a lot of options. Many local pet stores offer courses in their stores. The main advantage to this type of dog grooming course would be that you could bring your dog, and have a hands on training session. You would be able to have any questions answered immediately, and the pet store would most likely recommend certain tools that they carry in their store to assist you in grooming your dog.

Another option for taking a dog grooming course would be a series of DVDs or an online video course. Both of these options would also be very good, because you would be able to complete the course from the comfort of your own home. You could also pause the video or the DVD when you needed to, and then continue at any time.

It may be that these types of videos would cover different aspects of grooming, from nail care to ear care. Another area that could be covered is the proper care of your dog’s anal glands. This is not a subject that many dog owners find particularly exciting, but in certain types of dogs, it is a necessary part of regular care.

The best thing you can do for your dog is spend time with him or her. Part of quality time with your dog includes grooming him and keeping him clean. All dogs enjoy being groomed, when you know how to do all of the necessary steps properly. There is much less chance of your dog becoming stressed if you groom your pet at home, instead of taking him to a groomer’s home or studio.