If you suffer from psoriasis you are potentially at risk for developing fingernail psoriasis. Nail psoriasis is a hereditary skin condition, that will appear as red, scaly patches on the lower back, knees and elbows. In some instances, psoriasis symptoms can spread to your nails and cause issues. Keep reading to find out more about nail psoriasis and the best way to treat it.

In rare cases, you can develop nail psoriasis without having skin psoriasis. If this happens it may be difficult to get a correct diagnosis from your doctor because the symptoms of psoriatic nails are similar to the symptoms of nail fungal infections. The treatment for these types of conditions are different, so it is important to have the correct diagnosis.

What types of symptoms can you expect to experience with nail psoriasis? First of all, you may notice a yellowish or reddish discoloration under the nail. This may look like a small drop of blood or oil. You may also start to notice the surface of the nails developing small pits.

In a normal nail, you will see the lines running from root to tip. However, when you have psoriasis of the nails the lines will run across the nails. In addition to these lines, you can develop patches of white under the nail on the nail bed.  Other changes in the appearance of the nails can include tiny black lines that run from tip to cuticle and occasional red patches under the nails due to congested capillaries.

Psoriasis of the nails is not life threatening nor is it contagious. However, it can cause thickening of the skin below the nail. If the skin becomes thick enough it can loosen the nail and over time, the nails can crumble and fall away from the nail bed. When the nail bed becomes exposed it can cause quite a bit of pain. Infection can become an issue when the protective covering of the fingernail is gone.

Treatment for nail psoriasis varies depending on the severity of the psoriasis and if there are other infections present. It is important that you keep your nails clean and dry. Do not rub your nails vigorously and keep them neatly trimmed. If the psoriasis of the nail is severe or does not respond to treatment, your doctor may surgically remove the affected nails.

Keep in mind that nail psoriasis cannot be cured. You will always have the risk of this condition flaring up. However, you can treat the symptoms to improve the appearance of your nails.