Lupus day 24

 Hi Everyone!

This is day 24 of lupus awareness and I have no idea what the fact for the day is. I wanted to tell you about some thing that doesn't get a lot of attention. Of course, unless it affects you.

That is lupus fingernails and toenails. When I was in my 20's I noticed my fingernails had ridges on them. I was told, with out blood work, that I had a vitamin D deficiency. Much later I learned it can be part of lupus. These are my nails now.

This is about as long as I allow them to grow.I don't know if you can see the ridges. They look pretty good right now, except for the garden soil. LOL

 

Here is my thumb nail where you can see the ridges more clearly and how dry and cracked the cuticles are. This is as bad as it gets for me.

However, some lupus people really suffer with their fingernails. Nail changes in lupus likely happens because of the inflammation and the way the immune system reacts to the condition. Lupus may affect the fingernails in several ways.

Lupus lesions on the nail fold (the base of the nail where it grows from the finger) appear to be the source of many nail-related lupus problems, including ridges and splitting in the nail plate (the hard surface of the nail). Nail redness or redness/discoloration around the nails could be due to problems with blood vessels. Melanonychia (discoloration) may look purple, brown, or gray, depending on skin color. 

This looks so painful. Thank the gods I have not experienced this.

Side effects of lupus medications may also cause some of the nail abnormalities that people experience. Medications that affect the immune system may increase your risk of developing a fungal nail infection, damage to nail folds, or discolored nails. These include:
Corticosteroids (Prednisone) I do take this.

Azathioprine (Imuran) Not me

Mithotrexate Not me

The antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), which is commonly used to treat lupus, has also been linked to nail changes.

Biologic drugs, made from living cells to target the immune system, can increase the risk of fungal infections. Fungal nail infections can cause thickening and brittleness, as well as white, green, yellow, or black nails.

There are other photos but they are pretty graphic so I leave it up to you to check it out on google if you want to. 

You would think that getting a manicure and pedicure would help. It might make you feel pampered, but in reality some of the  substances used in professional manicures can cause nail problems to worsen and other symptoms of lupus. In addition if the skin gets nicked you are more likely for infection.

I've been lucky, in that my hands and nails have always been strong. I use non-greasy lotions and wear gloves (most of the time) in the garden, and some art activities. 

With any autoimmune one must pamper their hands and feet. 

 Please come back tomorrow. I will be talking about 

Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine) and Chloroquine. Medications for lupus.

I hope you learned something new today about lupus. 

Be well, my friends.

Nicole

 

Most of this information is from, 

My Lupus Team