Psoriasis of the Nails
Serving Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Grimsby and surrounding areas
Nail Psoriasis:
- May or may not be associated with psoriasis on the body
- To learn more about psoriasis on the body, please click here
- 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 or 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 commonly 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
Nail Rejuvenation (Laquer Therapy):
- Clinical trials have demonstrated improvement with medicated nail laquers and nail rejuvenation therapy
- I am now pleased to offer nail rejuvenation treatments in my office
- These treatments help to make the nails stronger, more flexible, less brittle and healthier
- Nail rejuvenation treatments have been shown to strengthen weak and brittle nails
- At least one month of treatment is required for for improvement
- This treatment can be applied under nail polish to protect the nails and to strengthen them
- To learn more about treatment of nail psoriasis with Nail Rejuvenation Therapy, please click here
Intralesional Steroid (Cortisone Injections):
- Injections of cortisone into the fingertip and around the nail may lead to improvement
- The treatments are very painful, and the results are often disappointing
- The injections are repeated at monthly intervals
- The main side effects from the injections include, but are 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
Nail Psoriasis – Pitting
Psoriasis – Nails
Psoriasis – Pitting
Psoriasis – Onycholysis and Oil Drop Sign
What if you are interested to learn more?
If you would like to learn more please phone the aesthetic centre directly at (905) 549-7873 to book a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable technicians or