Severe psoriasis of the fingernails

Hello Deb

Oh, I so feel for you. In fact I tried to post something similar the other day, but it was lost in the ether!

I have scalp psoriasis which drives me nuts! But worse than that, I developed psoriasis on my toes. I lost most of my toenails. It was agony wearing shoes. It cleared up on it's own, but it's now back!

I saw several doctors about it, to no avail. Then my joints were affected and I was finally diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. How are you joints?

I am newly diagnosed so have only just started meds. Not sure what to do about nails. I guess I need to be referred to a skin specialist?

So sorry you are suffering. Sorry I have no advice.

Mmmm. Mine has not really cleared up despite all the DMARDS. Folic acid boosts nail and hair growth though.

Hello deb

Welcome to the site

I suffer Nail Psoriasis on feet and hands, sometimes we can get the Psoriasis on the nail beds and that can lead to nail removal.

I have also problems with my skin and small joints and tendons so it all workes out as a quadriple wammy. I have been like this now for over thirty years

Merry Christmas

BOB

Hi Deb

Welcome to the forum 😊 I had psoriasis under my fingernails although not as bad as you. I remember the pain if I knocked them and my nails lifted up from the roots. I can remember waking in the night fingers throbbing with pain. I too went to a dermatologist who told me the treatment was too harsh on the liver and to live with it. 3 years later I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and was put on methotrexate. My nails (although they still have psoriasis under them) no longer lift from the root or fall off or cause me any pain. I get the 'black' under my nails which comes and goes but I have nails again! And pain free.

Methotrexate is a harsh drug so you have to weigh up your options.... Chances are if you progress to psoriatic arthritis you will end up on it anyway.

Personally I would take the plunge. Some people suffer no side effects from MTX ...you could be one of the lucky ones... If you do suffer them you get used to them.

The reason I would say to do it is because I know how traumatic and painful what you have is and also confidence knocking.

Why not go on the MTX.... See if it works for your nails like it did for mine and when they are fit and healthy again.... Try dropping the mtx in stages to see how it goes.

My nails are now full and healthy and twice a week I put tea tree oil under them and this seems to have worked for me.

The best thing is they are pain free and no more trying to stick nails on (which can't do them any good) and I probably lose one a year now at the most.

Remember MTX will take a while to work but you have the option of coming off of it at any time.

I wish you luck

Lisa

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Hi Deb,

I've been suffering from nail psoriasis for about seven years now, and I've tried a few different things. Something that really caught my eye was a study that was being conducted in Taiwan using Indigo Naturalis. I waited years for the clinical trials to be over and for it to be available and finally got my hands on it about two years ago by travelling to Taiwan and meeting with Dr. Lin.

It's the only treatment I've found to be effective, and it doesn't have any serious side effects. Sometimes around my nails feels a little itchy, but that's about it. When I was using it (it's a topical medicine) my nails improved more than they had otherwise. 

In terms of getting the medicine, it's not very expensive but only lasts four about four months (then it expires). It can, however, be mailed if you know anyone in Taiwan. If not, then it's at least a beautiful place to go (tropical) and most people speak English, including the hospital staff. I had an email correspondence with them first and then came to meet them. Their facilities were modern and everyone was very gentle and kind.

This probably seems a bit daunting, but it's a lot more do-able than I had thought. If you watch airfare it can be relatively inexpensive to fly to Taipei (the capital), and it's a great vacation spot. Plus, the sun is good for our nails!

I hope this was helpful. Dr. Lin's medicine is the only thing that's managed to effectively help me. Of course, the medicine takes a long time for nails to grow completely back to the tip. He estimates about a year of using the medicine for fingernails and potentially two years for toenails.

Anyway, let me know if there is any other information I can offer.

Best to you,

T.