If you have psoriasis, you may notice that this skin condition also affects your nails. In fact, about half of all people with psoriasis will have some changes to their nails. If this is your case, please don't lose hope. There are some natural ways to help soothe your symptoms and get your nails back to looking healthy again. This article will cover some of the basics about nail psoriasis and some natural solutions you can use in your day-to-day. 

Nail psoriasis can cause your nails to become yellow, thickened, or misshapen. You may also see minor dents or pits in your nails. In severe cases, the nails can crumble and come away from the nail bed. You may also have changes to the skin around your nails and it can include inflammation, redness, and scaling.

These are some natural ways that you can help ease your symptoms and improve your nail health:

Probiotics 

Probiotics are live bacteria that help to balance the good and bad bacteria in your gut. Probiotics can help to lessen inflammation throughout the body, including in the nails.

Our multi-strain biotic can help to keep your gut healthy while supporting your immune system. Both these aspects are crucial when it comes to overall skin health and can benefit those living with skin conditions like psoriasis. You can also include probiotics in your diet by eating fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir. 

Prebiotics 

Prebiotics support a healthy digestive system and can contribute to a robust immune system. Since nail psoriasis is an inflammatory condition resulting from an autoimmune disease, maintaining a healthy gut and immune system can help to calm the psoriasis symptoms. 

Moisturise your nails

Keeping your nails and the skin around them moisturised is essential when you have nail psoriasis. This will help to prevent the nails from becoming brittle and help to keep the skin supple and hydrated.

You can use a variety of natural oils to moisturise your nails and cuticles, including coconut oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil. In addition, we recommend using our prebiotic hand cream, as it contains both prebiotics and natural oils to nourish your nails from the inside out. It's ideal for sensitive skin and can be used daily - simply massage a small amount of it into your nails, cuticles and hands as desired.

Comfortable footwear

Aim for comfortable, well-fitting shoes if your nail psoriasis affects your toenails. Wider shoes with a soft fabric lining will help to reduce friction and prevent the nails from becoming irritated. Ensure your toes have room as cramped toes can sometimes worsen nail psoriasis symptoms. Avoiding tight shoes and synthetic fabrics on the feet can also help, as they can cause sweating and later lead to nail and foot infections. 

Keep your nails clean and trimmed

It's vital to keep your nails clean and trimmed when you have psoriasis. Doing this will help prevent infection and make it easier to apply moisturisers and oils.

Be sure to wash your hands with gentle soap and warm water, paying particular attention to the nails. It can be helpful to trim your nails regularly, taking care not to leave them too long as this can increase the risk of infection. You can also avoid further damage to the nails when trimming by using a file rather than nail clippers. 

Avoid harsh chemicals

When you have nail psoriasis, it's important to stay away from strong chemicals on your nails as these can irritate the skin and worsen the symptoms. That's why some find it beneficial to wear gloves when cleaning the house or using harsh chemicals, as it protects their nails from more damage. 

There are natural ways to soothe the symptoms and help your nails recover. We hope these tips can help you find relief, and please feel free to look over our reviews to see how our products have helped others with the similar conditions to soothe psoriasis symptoms.