NAIL PSORIASIS

Serving Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Grimsby and surrounding areas.

Nail Psoriasis

• May or may not be associated with psoriasis on the body.
• Affects fingernails much more commonly than toe nails.
• May show small holes or 'pits' in the nail.
• May cause the nails to 'lift up' (onycholysis).
• May cause yellow/brown discoloration of the nail (oil drop sign).
• May be associated with arthritis in the fingers or toes.
• Is NOT due to a fungus or infection.
• Is NOT due to diet.
• Is NOT due to nail polish.
• Is NOT contagious.
• Is NOT dangerous.
• Extremely rarely causes complete loss of the nail.
  

Treatment:

• Can be safely covered with nail polish or artificial nails.
• Treatment is extremely difficult and often does not work.

Topical Creams:

• Cortisone creams are the most common treatment used. Use them once or twice daily as directed.
• Once an area improves, stop using the medicated creams. Long-term cortisone use may thin the skin.
• Creams are usually INEFFECTIVE for nail psoriasis.

Intralesional Steroid (Cortisone Injections):

• Injections of cortisone into the fingertip and around the nail may lead to improvement but the treatments are very painful and the results are often disappointing.
• The injections are repeated at monthly intervals.
• The main side effect from the injections includes, but is not limited to: thinning of the skin. This may appear as stretch marks, dimpling of the skin or bruising.  Skin thinning will usually resolve spontaneously once treatment is stopped.

Phototherapy (Light Therapy):

• Does not work for nail psoriasis.

Oral Therapy (Pills) and Biologics:

• For more severe psoriasis oral medications may be used.
• Talk to your doctor about your treatment options

Dermatologist Dr. Peter Vignjevic • 631 Queenston Road, Suite 203, Hamilton, Ontario 905-549-1025

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