Psoriasis fingernail characteristics-Suzanne

[Guest guest]

Suzanne,

I¹m trying to catch up and I don¹t think I ever answered this question.

About 50 percent of patients with skin symptoms of psoriasis also have

fingernail abnormalities, especially small indentations (called pitting) or

nail thickening. Arthritis, called psoriatic arthritis, can be present in

10-20 percent of all persons with psoriasis, and in some people, it even can

precede the skin changes.

These sites have pictures of nails commonly in people with psoriasis:

http://www.psoriasis.umich.edu/psoriasispictures.html

http://www.acp.edu/facultystaff/Mccomb/psoriasis.htm

The National Psoriasis Foundation lists these symptoms of psoriatic

arthritis:

Pain and swelling in the joints, especially the extremities.

Stiffness in the joints, especially in the morning.

Sausage Digit: Fingers or toes that are swollen, red, and sauasage shaped.

Nerve pain - numbness and tingling (due to nerve root compression from the

discs degenerating in the spine from the continued attacks of PA).

Severe Fatigue and/or Narcoleptic like episodes while driving on highway

more than 30 minutes.

Sleep disturbance

Clinical Depression/Anxiety

Severe manifestations of psoriasis. Psoriasis may take several forms, but

the most common form is called " plaque psoriasis " which " most commonly

appears as inflamed swollen skin lesions covered with silvery white scale. "

Another type of psoriasis commonly associated with arthritis is " nail

psoriasis. " " Commonly it appears as pits in the nails of various size,

shape, and depth. Sometimes the nails develop a yellowish color and become

thick. The nails may crumble easily and be surrounded by inflammation.

Another possible symptom is detachment of the nail from the nail bed. "

a

On 5/11/02 8:25 AM, " Suzanne " <suzshay@...> wrote:

> /a,

>

> I'm not familiar with the typical nail and finger characteristics for PA you

> have both referred to. Can you tell me more?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Suzanne

>