Joris Bartstra, doctor and journalist, answers reader questions
I have nail psoriasis. My dermatologist gave a lotion for this. What else can I do about it myself? And is it bad if my hands come into contact with soda water?
It’s a bit of frumpy advice, but don’t do too much crazy stuff. Nail psoriasis, like regular psoriasis, is an autoimmune disease. Your own immune system goes too far in fighting infections and cleaning up damaged tissue. It is therefore important to prevent damage to your nails; for example by keeping them short, so that they don’t bump into everything. For the same reason, you should also not take artificial nails.
Do not use your nails as a tool to scrape away dirt and avoid contact with cleaning agents, including soda. You can use nail polish, but avoid aggressive removers with acetone. Pushing the cuticle away is also not wise because the cuticle protects the nail bed. So be nice to the nails.
Sources):
- Plus Magazine
