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Psoriasis is a skin condition characterized by red patches on the skin covered with scales/ flakes. It is an autoimmune disease that means the immune cells start to damage the healthy skin out of a misdirected response. Psoriasis can affect any area of the skin including hands. Palms of the hands, back of hands, fingers, knuckles and nails may get affected in case of hand psoriasis. The skin patches can be itchy, painful and can be attended with swelling.
Dryness and cracks may also occur on the hands that may bleed sometimes. Skin peeling or skin thickening may also be noticed. In some cases, fluid-filled bumps (blisters) or pus filled bumps (pustules) can form on the hands. Discomfort may be felt while using hands due to these signs and symptoms. When nails are affected, discoloration of nails occurs. Nails become dark in color — yellowish brown or yellowish red. The other signs can be the thickening of nails, pits on the nails, crumbling of nails and separation of nail from the nail bed. Persons having psoriasis are also at risk of arthritis (joint inflammation) known as psoriatic arthritis. The exact cause behind psoriasis has not been understood completely yet. However, it is considered to be a disease of autoimmune origin where the healthy skin is being damaged by immune cells out of a mistake. Here the skin cells begin to divide and grow at a higher speed than normal pace. This makes the immature skin cells appear on the surface of the skin at a faster rate than what the skin can clear off. This leads to a pile-up of skin cells resulting in the thickening of skin covered with scales. Persons having a family history of psoriasis are at risk of hand psoriasis. Other than this several environmental factors can trigger it. Some of these factors include skin injury, extreme weather (both cold and hot), stress, skin infection and use of certain medicines like antidepressants, excessive smoking and alcohol intake, and infections like strep throat.
Homeopathic Management
Homeopathic medicines can treat cases of hand psoriasis naturally. These medicines aim at moderating the immune system to bring natural recovery. They treat hand psoriasis safely and effectively with zero side effects. Homeopathic medicines help in managing signs and symptoms of hand psoriasis like dry patches with scales, cracks on skin, eruptions on skin, itching, pain, oozing fluid/bleeding from eruptions. They are also helpful in managing nail psoriasis. They also work wonderfully in cases of psoriatic arthritis. There are numerous medicines for treating hand psoriasis in homeopathy and in every case, the most suitable medicine has to be ruled out after detailed analysis of the case. It is advised to take any homeopathic medicine after consulting a homeopathic physician and avoid self–medication in any case.
Top Homeopathic Medicines For Hand Psoriasis
1. Petroleum – Top Remedy
Among the different homeopathic medicines for hand psoriasis, petroleum tops the list. The leading symptom guiding its use is rough skin with cuts and cracks on the palms of hands. The cuts and cracks can be quite deep. They have a tendency to bleed at times. There occurs intense itching and burning on the hand that hinders work done with hands. Roughness and cracks are also marked on the finger tips. Besides, it is also indicated when thick crusts form on the hands. This medicine is also the topmost medicine for psoriasis that gets worse in winters.
2. Graphites – For Skin Or Nail Psoriasis
Graphites is the next most beneficial medicine for psoriasis on hands and nails. It is firstly indicated for cases where there is hard and cracked skin on the palms. Secondly, it is of great help when tiny eruptions filled with fluid (blisters) develop on the skin. These blisters tend to ooze out a sticky, gluey discharge. Besides, it can be used where nails are involved. It is indicated when nails get thick, rough and blackish. These may turn brittle and crumble (break into small pieces). The nails get deformed. Nails are also painful and tender to touch.
3. Arsenic Album – With Scale Formation
This medicine is well indicated for psoriasis with scales. There occur dry rough patches on the hands covered with scales. Itching and burning is felt in these patches. Cold tends to worsen itching and warm applications help to relieve it. It is also useful when nails are discolored. Affected nails are blackish and tend to crumble.
4. Rhus Tox – When Back Of Hands Are Affected
Rhus Tox is a highly suitable medicine for psoriasis covering the back of hands. The affected skin is hard and rough. It is also cracked. There may be peeling of the skin on the left hand. Psoriasis may also spread on the arm of the left side mostly. The hands have heated sensation on the backside. Intense itching is felt on the affected area on hands. This medicine can also be considered in cases where joint inflammation is present along with pain, swelling and stiffness of joints.
5. Sulphur – With marked itching and burning
Sulphur is a prominent medicine to manage psoriasis cases with marked itching and burning. In cases needing it the skin in the hands is dry and hard. Cuts and cracks form on palms and on joints and between fingers. These are painful to touch. Excessive itching is felt especially when hands get warm. Scratching makes itching better but it is followed by a burning sensation. Sometimes bleeding occurs. It is also helpful for cases where dry scaly eruptions or vesicular (fluid-filled) eruptions form on the back of hand. Excessive sweating on palms may be noticed.
6. Mezereum – For Eruptions Oozing Sticky Fluid
This medicine can be used for cases having eruptions oozing out sticky fluid. The eruptions may be covered with crusts. Pus may ooze from under the crusts in some cases requiring it. Violent itching can be felt in the eruptions. Crusty eruptions can also form that may bleed on touching. Lastly, this medicine is indicated for vesicles (fluid-filled bumps) with a red center tip on the sides of fingers. There is a marked burning sensation in these vesicles.
7. Malandrium – For Cracks On Hands Worse In Winters
Like medicine petroleum, malandrium is indicated when cracks appear on the hands which get worse in winters. Hands become dry. Scaling appears, itching may be felt in the cracks. Washing hands increases the problem.
8. Sarsaparilla – For Cracks Especially On Sides Of Fingers
This medicine helps to heal cracks on the hands, especially on the sides of fingers. The cracks can be deep, and burning is felt in these cracks. The cracks are painful. The skin on the hand becomes hard. In some cases needing it, itchy, scaly spots appear on the skin.
9. Anagallis – For Vesicles (Fluid-Filled Bumps) Oozing Yellow Brown Fluid
Anagallis is a useful medicine for cases with tiny vesicles (fluid-filled bumps) that ooze yellow-brown fluid on scratching. The vesicles appear in a group and are itchy. The skin on the hands is very dry. It is also helpful for dry eruptions appearing on the hands and fingers.
10. Antimonium Crudum – When Nails Are Affected
This medicine is effective when nails are affected. In cases needing it, the nails become discolored and brittle (tend to break easily). They are cracked, deformed, and become out of shape. The skin under the nails is painful. Besides these, this medicine is of great use when there is inflammation in finger joints.
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