Nail psoriasis - any medications helped you with it?
Does anyone here have nail psoriasis along with their PsA? I've had nail psoriasis for over 20 years. Did light therapy for a few years, and the doctor waived the copay so I could afford it. It helped a lot. The doctor can no longer waive copays so I can no longer afford it ($75/week basically, forever).
I started on Otezla a few years back for psoriasis (hadn't been diagnosed with PsA yet), and it helped the nail psoriasis a bit, but not a lot. Still very much an issue for me.
Very recently I was finally diagnosed with PsA, and my rheumatologist put me on Leflunomide. She said not to expect it do really help the nail psoriasis, but it should keep my psoriasis down as well as help with the PsA symptoms.
Has anyone had any success with medications and nail psoriasis? My dream is to eliminate it entirely, but realistically, I'd love to just improve it where my fingertips aren't constantly sore. Wondering if anyone has taken anything that's actually helped.
Hi
. I know many people have had success treating nail psoriasis with biologics. I am not sure about traditional DMARDs, like Leflunomide. I hope it helps, regardless of your doctor's warnings, and that you get some input from others is the community. In the meantime, here is an article about treatment for nail psoriasis that I thought might interest you: https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/clinical/treatment-nail-psoriasis. Sending the best of all wishes your way. - Lori (Team Member) 
, I've had nail psoriasis for years too, so I know the struggle. I had some luck with using my liquid scalp medication (calcipotriol) on my fingernails - dripping it down behind the nails so that it sunk into the nail bed and then rubbing it into the cuticles. It took about nine months for my nails to get back to almost "normal". I did check with my dermatologist before doing this. I'm also currently using a tea tree oil remedy on my toenails which seems to be helping, although I'm finding that a healthy-looking nail starts growing in and then about half way up the nail it turns into a psoriatic one again. I'm sticking with it for now because the half healthy nail is motivating me to persist! I hope you can find something that will help. I'd be curious to hear if the leflunomide does end up making any difference! -Catherine, Community Moderator
