Psoriasis is an inflammation of the skin.

With psoriasis, skin cells are produced faster than your body needs them. The layers build up on each other and become irritated. Psoriasis scales will appear most often on the knees and elbows but also sometimes on the hands, feet, scalp, or face.

Up to 55% of people with psoriasis may have nail psoriasis. This is when psoriasis spreads to the fingernail beds and the nail matrix. When psoriasis spreads to the nails, it can make them discolored, pitted, or brittle. Sometimes, red or white spots will appear or the nails can even separate from the nail bed.

The nail sphygmomanometer is a way to measure the effects of nail sphygmomanometer. It is a way of tracking the progression of nail sphygmomanies.

Healthcare professionals can perform the NAPSI test quickly, and it delivers consistent results, according to research from 2003.

Read further to learn more about NAPSI and what to do if you think you might have nail psoriasis.

Usually, you will see a dermatologist or rheumatologist to have the test done. The test to score your NAPSI is entirely noninvasive and painless. In fact, all a doctor needs is a pencil and a notepad.

Here is how it works.

  1. The healthcare professional will divide the nail bed and nail matrix into four separate sections. The nail bed is the part of your body that is under your nails. If you lose a nail, the part that is exposed is the one that is exposed. The nail matrix is the area at the base of the bed where the skin cells grow to become your fingernails and toenails.
  2. The doctor will check the quadrants to see how many of the eight signs of nail sphygmomanic are in each one.
  3. Each section has a point for each symptom, and all the points are added up. If you have all your nails, you can get a maximum score of 80 for just hands or feet, and 160 for both.
  4. If doctors want to get a more detailed measurement, they can score each symptom for each finger or toe, meaning a total of 32 possible points for each finger or toe. The basic test usually provides enough information to make this rare.

The more severe your nail sphygmomanis is, the higher the score. A score of 0 means you have no signs of the condition, while a score of 100 means more significant symptoms.

The index is helpful for people in clinical trials.

As your sPsoriasis develops, your NAPSI score will be used to help doctors track the effectiveness of any treatment as it gets better. The index is useful in trials because it gives doctors a way to measure progress of a large group of people.

One big advantage that the test provides is its consistency. According to a study from 2012, people with nail psoriasis will receive around the same NAPSI score when given the test by different healthcare professionals.

Many treatments exist for nail psoriasis, though it’ll take time before you’ll see results. This is because new cells are created at the base of the nail and can take a long time to grow in. Topical medications like corticosteroids, calcipotriol, or tazarotene can help, but you need to apply them at least once daily for months to be effective.

Cyclosporin A and vitamin D3 analogues have also proven helpful in treating nail psoriasis and are sometimes given along with other medicines, according to 2016 research.

For nail stylus that is slightly more stubborn, a healthcare professional can inject a medication or use a less painful treatment that combines ultraviolet light with a specific medication.

In extreme cases of nail sphygmomanies, oral medications may be helpful. These include:

  • methotrexate
  • The cyclosporine is a drug.
  • It is called apremilast.

Certain retinoids or biologics may also help.

If you notice a change in the appearance of your nails, you should seek the advice of a doctor. If your nails start to break or start to separate from the nail bed, you will want to apply a coat of nailpolish.

If you are having trouble with everyday tasks like walking, tying shoes, or buttoning your shirt, you should see a doctor.

If you ignore nail psoriasis long enough, it can eventually make it hard to walk without pain or do everyday tasks. A doctor will probably first check to see that your symptoms aren’t caused by nail fungus, which is also very common.

Nail psoriasis affects more than 7 million people each year in the United States alone and can be very uncomfortable.

The progress of nail sphygmomanes is measured by the NAPSI. This can help your doctor advise you on the best ways to treat it.