Onychomycosis and nail psoriasis

Aims. The occurrence of mycotic lesions on psoriatic nails is a very rare f inding since the state of parakeratosis characteristic of psoriasis does no t favour the invasion of the stratum corneum by keratinophilic and keratino lytic fungi and, especially, dermatophytes. Our study attempted to search onyxis frequencies due to dermatophytes, yeas ts and molds among 67 patients. We wanted make the difference between infec tions and colonizations of nail psoriasis. Methods. During the period November 1996-May 1997, we have studied 19 women and 48 men admitted to Dermatology's Hospital of Nancy and Thionville (Fre nch Nord-East cities). Main results. We have found 10 dermatophytes (5 Trichophyton rubrum and 5 T richophyton mentagrophytes interdigitale), 13 molds and 12 yeasts on 82 sam ples (fingernails, toenails). Conclusions. Our experience seems to show that the occurrence of mycotic in fections during nail psoriasis is not a rare an event as commonly believed. Although, we cannot emphazise that onychomycosis and nail psoriasis are tw o different diseases or that psoriasis therapeutics allow fungi infections. Nail clipping is an essential fool in nail psoriasis diagnosis; it will in crease the frequency of diagnosing onychomycosis in psoriatic nails.