A double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled, parallel-group trial was performed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of
tazarotene 0.1% gel and vehicle gel in 31 patients with fingernail
psoriasis. Patients were randomized to receive
tazarotene or vehicle gel, which they applied each evening for up to 24 weeks to 2 target fingernails, one under occlusion and one unoccluded. The
tazarotene treatment resulted in a significantly greater reduction in
onycholysis in occluded nails (P < or = .05 at weeks 4 and 12) and a significantly greater reduction in
onycholysis in nonoccluded nails (P < or = .05 at week 24).
Tazarotene also resulted in a significantly greater reduction in pitting in occluded nails (P < or = .05 at week 24). There were no other significant between-group differences in pitting, subungual hyperkeratosis, leukonychia, nail plate crumbling/loss, splinter
hemorrhage, or nail growth rate.
Tazarotene 0.1% gel was well tolerated with only 5 of the 21
tazarotene-treated patients reporting a treatment-related adverse event (all mild or moderate). In conclusion,
tazarotene 0.1% gel can significantly reduce
onycholysis (in occluded and nonoccluded nails) and pitting (in occluded nails) and is well tolerated in the treatment of nail
psoriasis.