Inflammatory Nail Disorders

Abstract

Psoriasis is a condition with a strong genetic component. While only about 2% to 3% of Americans suffer from psoriasis, approximately one out of every three people who come from families with a history of psoriasis will have this condition. Nail involvement occurs in approximately 10% to 50% of patients with psoriasis. However, most patients with psoriasis of the nails have psoriasis elsewhere on their bodies, including the elbows, knees, scalp and lumbosacral area, and fewer than 10% of patients present with psoriasis of the nails only.² As shown in Table 2, the clinical signs of psoriasis of the nails depend on the portion of the nail unit that is involved.