Nail Changes

IN PSORIASIS

Psoriasis can affect fingernails and toenails in 25% of cases.

The signs for this are

• Abnormalities include nail pitting
• Transverse furrows
• Crumbling nail plate
• Roughened nails
• Nail bed shows ‘oil spot’, distal onycholysis, distal subungual hyperkeratosis
• Splinter haemorrhages and false nail following spontaneous separation of nail plate.

IN LICHEN PLANUS

Changes seen are

• Thinning, brittleness, crumbling of the nail with accentuated surface longitudinal ridging.
• Colour change to black or white.
• Chronic inflammation causes either partial or complete loss of nail plate and formation of pterygium with partial loss of central nail plate seen as distal notch or completely split nail.
• Involvement of nail bed causes onycholysis, distal subungual hyperkeratosis, formation of bulla or permanent loss of nail.

IN ALOPECIA AREATA

Apart from patchy hair loss, individual can have associated nail changes. These are:

• Superficial nail pitting.
• Brittle nails with vertical ridges
• Koilonychia: spoon like curvature of nails
• Separation of distal part of nail plate from nail bed

Diagnosis

Depending on duration , various causes, symptoms, appearance, any co-existing medical illness or skin disease, medications history, occupational details, diagnosis is made and if any underlying condition is present it is addressed immediately.

Treatment at Skin & You Clinic

Based on causative factors it can be combination of oral and topical treatment – such as topical and oral antifungals, topical and oral antibiotic, nail supplements, or steroid based injection to control the progression of disease such as in cases of psoriasis.

Why Skin & You Clinic for Nails Infections?

We, at Skin & You Clinic, assess, examine and treat all dermatological conditions with utmost care.