Novel treatment of nail psoriasis using the intense pulsed light: a one-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND

Pulsed dye laser has been used successfully in the treatment of nail psoriasis. Intense pulsed light (IPL) has been used in the treatment of plaque psoriasis using a 550-nm filter.

OBJECTIVE

To study the efficacy of IPL in the treatment of nail psoriasis.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Twenty patients with finger and toe nail psoriasis were treated by IPL. Sessions were performed every 2 weeks for a maximum of 6 months. The Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) score was calculated at baseline and 1 month after the last treatment session. Follow-up was performed at 1, 6, and 12 months.

RESULTS

Patients received a mean of 8.63 ± 3.6 IPL sessions. After treatment, there was significant improvement in the nail bed and matrix (p < .0001), and in the NAPSI (p < .0001). Nail bed showed improvement by 71.2%, whereas the nail matrix improvement was only 32.2%. The total NAPSI was 82.4%. Patient follow-up revealed relapse in 3 patients after 6 months.

CONCLUSION

Intense pulsed light is a promising effective modality of treatment of nail psoriasis, which is easy to use, safe, and provide a long period of remission. This was confirmed by the elicited clinical improvement, NAPSI, and patient satisfaction.