What should you know about kuku berlekuk (pitting) nails?

Pits form when growth in part of the nail-producing area is interrupted. Nail psoriasis is one possible cause and may also produce roughness, separation from the nail bed, yellow-brown colour, or material beneath the nail. Pitting can also occur with other inflammatory skin conditions or after local injury, so the appearance alone cannot establish a diagnosis.

Look at whether one nail or several are affected, whether new pits appear as the nail grows, and whether there are changes on the scalp, elbows, knees, or other skin areas. Joint stiffness or swollen fingers can also be relevant information for a clinician.

Keep nails trimmed, wear gloves for prolonged wet work, and avoid biting, scraping, or pushing back the cuticles. Moisturise the nails and surrounding skin, and mention any new medicines or repeated trauma. Photographing changes over time can help show whether the pattern is progressing.

A clinician may examine the nails and nearby skin, and may test material if infection is a concern. Treatment depends on the cause. Options can include [Steroid Injection Into The Skin](/treatments/injectables/intralesional-steroid-injection/) for selected local disease or broader treatment such as [Biologic Therapy](/treatments/medical-dermatology/biologic-therapy/).

Arrange an assessment if pitting is new, spreading, painful, or accompanied by nail lifting, marked discoloration, swelling, or drainage. Seek prompt care for rapidly worsening redness, severe tenderness, or fever. A dark streak, a changing mark around the nail, or persistent bleeding also deserves timely review rather than self-treatment.

Ask whether the pattern fits [Nail Psoriasis](/conditions/nail-psoriasis/), whether infection or trauma needs exclusion, and whether your skin or joints show related signs. Ask how long treatment may take as the nail grows, which products to avoid, and when follow-up is needed.