Nail psoriasis is nail disease associated with psoriasis. It is also known as psoriatic nail dystrophy.
Only 5% of patients present with typical nail psoriasis as an isolated disorder; most patients have plaque psoriasis. About 50–80% have psoriatic arthritis, particularly arthritis mutilans.
Patients with nail psoriasis may be of any age or race. Nail dystrophy is often precipitated or aggravated by trauma.
Nail psoriasis arises within the nail matrix. The specific pathogenesis of nail psoriasis is unknown.
Nail psoriasis can affect any part of one or more nails. There are often scaly plaques on the dorsum of the hands and fingers due to associated plaque psoriasis. Signs depend on the part of the nail affected. Its severity may or may not reflect the severity of the skin or joint psoriasis.