What Conditions Can Trachyonychia Indicate?

Psoriasis

Psoriasis patients have also been reported to have nail manifestations that include trachyonychia. Psoriasis is a condition characterized by the acceleration of the life cycle that cells that make up the skin go through. This malfunction results in non-malignant patches and scales on the skin that can be painful. The spots that occur in individuals with psoriasis can range from excessive eruptions of large body regions to small spots with dandruff sized scaling. Psoriasis is a condition characterized by episodic cycles that flare up for weeks to months and then go into remission or subside. It is not uncommon for the fingernails and toenails of psoriasis patients to present with manifestations. The nails can become discolored, grow abnormally, develop pits, become loose, and develop trachyonychia. The mechanism that connects psoriasis to trachyonychia is not clear, but it is known to be associated with the nail bed inflammation caused by skin cell overgrowth. Between approximately thirteen and twenty-six percent of individuals affected by trachyonychia are also affected by psoriasis.