Nail Psoriasis: Therapy

The treatment of nail psoriasis (nail psoriasis) is sometimes very lengthy. It takes about seven to nine months for the nail to completely renew itself. After the end of a treatment, the psoriasis nails usually reappear. There are several treatment options available. Psoriasis of the nails should be treated by the dermatologist – as part of the treatment of the underlying disease psoriasis.

General measures

  • Observance of the general hygiene measures!
  • Advice on hands and feet:
    • Careful hand care
      • After washing hands, use of a moisturizing skin care product (e.g., urea-containing hand care products).
      • Wearing gloves during wet work
      • Keep fingernails short
    • Avoiding trauma (injuries)
      • Biting or manipulation of the nails
      • Too frequent traumatizing manicure of hands and feet
  • Nicotine restriction (refraining from tobacco use).
  • Limited alcohol consumption (men: max. 25 g alcohol per day; women: max. 12 g alcohol per day).
  • Review of permanent medication due topossible effect on the existing disease.
  • Avoidance of psychosocial stress:
    • Stress

Conventional non-surgical therapy methods

  • One possible form of treatment is PUVA (psoralen plus UV-A). This involves applying a substance called psoralen to the affected nail, which sensitizes the skin to sunlight and UV radiation, and then irradiating it with UVA light. Irradiation without this substance with UVA or UVB light is also possible and is called selective ultraviolet irradiation (SUB).

Regular control examinations

  • Regular medical checkups

Nutritional medicine

  • Nutritional counseling based on nutritional analysis
  • Nutritional recommendations according to a mixed diet taking into account the disease at hand. This means, among other things:
    • Daily total of 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruits (≥ 400 g; 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruits).
    • Once or twice a week fresh sea fish, i.e. fatty marine fish (omega-3 fatty acids) such as salmon, herring, mackerel.
    • High-fiber diet (whole grains, vegetables).
  • Selection of appropriate food based on the nutritional analysis
  • See also under “Therapy with micronutrients (vital substances)” – if necessary, taking a suitable dietary supplement.
  • Detailed information on nutritional medicine you will receive from us.

Physical therapy (including physiotherapy)

  • Interferential current regulation therapy (IFR): by means of interferential current, good results have been achieved in the treatment of nail psoriasis.

Psychotherapy