Question:


Which of the following nail findings is seen in the condition shown below?

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Pin-point holes in the nail plate - think psoriasis.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • Pterygium
  • Pigmentation
  • Pitting
  • Ridges
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: The image shows nail pitting - shallow or deep punctate depressions (small holes) scattered over the nail plate surface.
Step 2: Pitting arises from defective keratinisation of the proximal nail matrix, where small foci of abnormal cells are shed, leaving pin-point depressions as the nail grows out.
Step 3: It is a classic finding in psoriasis, and is also seen in alopecia areata and eczema. This makes option (c) pitting correct.
Step 4: The distractors describe different changes: pterygium (a) is a wing-like scar bridging cuticle to nail bed (lichen planus); pigmentation (b) is a colour change such as a melanonychia band; ridges (d) are longitudinal or transverse lines, not discrete holes - none match the punctate depressions shown.
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