The Psoriasis Site

Changes in the nails are common in relation to psoriasis. It is estimated that 30-70% of those suffering from psoriasis have varying types of severe nail changes. However, it is unusual to have only nail psoriasis and no other signs of the disease. The most common nail change is small holes in the fingernails. It also usual to see a varying degree of onycholysis, ie it looks like a fingernail is detached from the nail plate. Characteristic and typical only for psoriasis is the yellow green discoloration of a fingernail. Nails are usually, just like skin on the body, become thickened and raised in varying degrees. This makes the nails very thick. This may in addition to the purely cosmetic also mean problems of cutting the thick fingernails. Sometimes, we must enlist the help of a chiropodist to grind down the nails. Treatment wise, nail changes represent a medical problem, because there is no really good treatment. One can try to dribble cortisone on it. In more extreme cases of nail psoriasis, you can try cortisone shots or a soft X-ray treatment.