What should you know about nail psoriasis treatment?

Nail psoriasis is inflammation affecting the nail matrix, nail bed, or both. It may produce pits, ridges, discolouration, thickening, crumbling, or separation from the bed. Nail changes grow out slowly, so improvement is assessed as healthier nail emerges rather than by an instant change to the existing plate. A fungal infection can coexist with psoriasis or imitate it; a clinician may examine a clipping before selecting treatment. See [Nail Psoriasis](/conditions/nail-psoriasis/) and [Discoloured Nails](/symptoms/nail-discoloration/).

Keep nails short, file rough edges, and avoid biting, picking, artificial nails, and aggressive cuticle work. Gloves can reduce water and chemical exposure. Depending on the pattern, a clinician may prescribe treatment applied to the nail or nearby skin, inject medicine into a selected area using [Steroid Injection Into The Skin](/treatments/injectables/intralesional-steroid-injection/), or discuss whole-body treatment when psoriasis is more extensive. [Biologic Therapy](/treatments/medical-dermatology/biologic-therapy/) is one specialist option, not a self-treatment.

Book a review for persistent nail lifting, tenderness, repeated splitting, or a change in several nails. Seek prompt care if pain comes with swelling, warmth, pus, fever, or rapidly worsening redness. A new dark streak, bleeding, or a change limited to one nail should be examined rather than assumed to be psoriasis.

Which part of my nail is affected? Should a clipping check for fungus? How long should I use the proposed treatment before judging the response? What nail-care habits could be worsening the separation? Do my skin or joint symptoms change the treatment plan?