Does nail psoriasis lead to arthritis?
Patients with skin psoriasis have a rate of nail disease of approximately 40%, while the rate of nail involvement in psoriatic arthritis is up to 80% [1, 4–6]. There is strong evidence that nail psoriasis is a predictor of joint disease and may occur even a few years earlier before arthritis symptoms [7].
What do fingernails look like with psoriatic arthritis?
Color changes. White, yellow, or brown discoloration and/or reddish marks (aka splinter hemorrhages, which are caused by tiny burst blood vessels under the nails) are common among people with psoriatic arthritis.
Is arthritis and psoriasis linked?
Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are related, but they are separate conditions. Psoriasis causes skin cells to renew too quickly, resulting in a red, scaly rash on the skin and characteristic silvery plaques. Psoriatic arthritis causes inflammation in the joints.
How do you treat psoriatic arthritis of the nails?
Some treatments work to target your nails directly, such as:
- Cortisone injections. Cortisone injections usually target inflammation in a single joint, but they can also be injected into the nail bed to reduce inflammation and combat psoriatic lesions.
- Steroid cream.
- Light therapy.
- Antifungal medications.
- Antibiotics.
What is psoriatic arthritis look like?
A psoriatic arthritis rash looks like red patches of skin with silvery scales (plaques). It typically appears on the scalp, elbows, knees, and around the ears. Sometimes psoriatic arthritis rashes will be localized in a few small patches, but sometimes they develop all over the body.
Where does psoriatic arthritis usually start?
PsA may begin in smaller joints, such as those of the fingers or toes, and progress from there. Spondylitis may be accompanied by dactylitis, or swelling of the toe or finger joints. This is sometimes called “sausage fingers.”