More than a rash, psoriasis is a lifelong immune disease that affects the skin. In psoriasis, T-cells, a type of white blood cell that fights infection, mistakenly triggers a reaction in skin cells, causing the body to over produce skin cells, according to the Psoriasis Net website. Psoriasis can appear anywhere on the body, including fingernails.
Identification
Nail psoriasis shows different signs depending on what part of the nail it affects. Psoriasis in the nail bed causes a yellow or yellow-pink discoloration; psoriasis in the nail matrix causes a deep pitting appearance, according to Psoriasis Rx. Nail plate crumbling occurs when psoriasis attacks the nail bed or matrix, states DermNet NZ.
Incidence
About 50 percent of active psoriasis sufferers will incur psoriasis of the fingernails and/or toenails, reports PsoriasisNet. DermNet NZ mentions less than 5 percent of psoriasis patients will only have nail psoriasis; 53 to 86 percent suffering from psoriasis arthritis have nail psoriasis.
Treatment
There is no cure for nail psoriasis, states DermNet NZ. Several treatment options are available; all equally treat the problem. Topical corticosteroids, also known as steroids, work best when covered by cellophane wrap at bedtime. Injections with intralesional triamcinoline acetonide into the nail folds is another option, but quite painful, states DermNet NZ. Phototherapy with ultraviolet-A, along with the medication psoralen and systemic treatments with oral medications are additional options.
