Nail Psoriasis

Nail psoriasis occurs when your fingernails and toenails are affected by psoriasis as well as your skin.

Where is it found?

The most common sign of nail psoriasis is pitting on your nails. Your nail may also be separated from the nail bed, have a silvery white crusting and there may be yellow-red discoloration in the nail bed resembling a drop of oil beneath your nail.

Click here to see an example of what nail psoriasis looks like.


Who gets it?

About 50% of people with psoriasis have nail psoriasis. Nail psoriasis may also be associated with Psoriatic arthritis (click here to learn more about psoriatic arthritis).


If you think you may have any of these symptoms you should consult your healthcare team, who will be able to advise on suitable treatment.

Further reading

Griffiths CEM, Barker JNWN. Pathogenesis and clinical features of psoriasis. The Lancet, July 21st 2007;370:263–71

Naldi L, Gambini D. The clinical spectrum of psoriasis. Clinics in Dermatology 2007;25:510–518