Nail psoriasis is a condition that affects the nails of the fingers and toes. It causes a color change, pitting, and other nail changes. This condition is quite common and affects around 50% of people with psoriasis and 86% of those with psoriatic arthritis. Since nail psoriasis is an autoimmune condition, it can be treated through a few natural remedies. Let us detail its signs, causes, treatments, and tips below.

Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of nail psoriasis can differ among individuals. Some indicators of this condition are discoloration, thickening, white spots, holes or dents, blood spots and streaks, grooves, pitting, rough nails, changes in the size, shape, or thickness of the nails, and separation of the nail from the nail bed.

Causes
As mentioned, nail psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder. Therefore, there is no particular cause for it. In a healthy individual, the production and growth of skin cells occur every 28-30 days. But, skin cells grow every 3-4 days in people with nail psoriasis. It is because of the overactive immune system. Therefore, it leads to some skin sections becoming inflamed, thick, and itchy.

Treatment options
The treatments for nail psoriasis include the following:

Topical treatments
These include creams, ointments, and emulsions.

Phototherapy
Also known as PUVA, this procedure slows down the growth of skin cells and helps with nail discoloration and separation.

Laser Treatment
The pulsed dye laser treats nail psoriasis, and the light beam is used under the skin.

Home remedies
Some natural remedies for this condition are:

Use of aloe vera gel
Aloe vera gel is beneficial in treating many health conditions, including nail psoriasis. The reason is that it has strong anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps strengthen and moisturize brittle nails that are caused due to nail psoriasis. Aloe vera gel prevents nails from reddening and cracking and nourishes and moisturizes the nails and nail beds.

A coconut oil massage
Coconut oil is another natural remedy and moisturizing agent to deal with nail psoriasis, as it consists of medium-chain fatty acids. You can massage the oil on the nails and cuticles for a few minutes.

Using dead sea salt
Dead Sea salt can be used in treating and managing nail psoriasis. However, research supporting this is limited. To use Dead Sea salt as a treatment for nail psoriasis, add it to warm water and then soak your nails in it for ten minutes. To get the desired results, it is necessary to do this several times a week.

Use of glycerin
The optimum moisture levels in the skin can be maintained with the help of glycerin, as it is a marvelous hydrating and moisturizing agent. Nail cracking and brittleness can be treated with glycerin. You can mix it with water and apply it to the nails and surrounding skin. Let it be for an hour, and then use lukewarm water to rinse it.

Use of shea butter
Shea butter is a natural moisturizing agent and helps in soothing nail psoriasis. It also contains vitamins A and E and fatty acids. Therefore, it helps strengthen, moisturize, nourish, and hydrate the nails affected by nail psoriasis. It also soothes the nail bed and the skin around it. You can use it on the affected nails before bedtime and wash it off in the morning.

Other helpful tips
Consider trying the following tips to stay protected from nail psoriasis:

Keep the nails dry and clean
Keeping the nails dry, moisturized, and clean is necessary. Trim the nails regularly, as nail psoriasis tends to cause them to break easily. Therefore, it is suggested to keep the nails short and clean. Also, it is advisable not to bite your nails and not use fake ones, as they may damage natural nails.

Consume anti-inflammatory foods
Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition; therefore, consuming anti-inflammatory foods helps manage and soothe nail psoriasis. The foods to be avoided are sugar, gluten, and dairy. Turmeric should be included in meals because of its anti-inflammatory properties and the substance called curcumin.

Wear gloves
It is necessary to protect the nails from breaking and harsh chemicals that may damage them or the skin around them. Therefore, it’s best to wear gloves while washing the dishes, cleaning the house, and working with products that contain harsh chemicals.

Conclusion
This post has detailed the signs and symptoms, causes, treatments, home remedies, and some tips to stay protected from nail psoriasis. However, some home remedies may be safe for a few people, but others could be allergic or have adverse reactions. Therefore, it is suggested to consult the healthcare provider before using any home remedy to prevent mishaps. Also, the treatment should be followed after consulting the healthcare provider.