BACKGROUND :  Nail involvement is an extremely common feature of psoriasis and it affects approximately 10–78% of patients. In lichen planus nail involvement occurs in 10% of patients.

AIM: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the nail changes in psoriasis and lichen planus attending our outpatient department.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: 60 consecutive cases were taken into the study after informed consent of which 46 cases were diagnosed as psoriasis and 14 cases as lichen planus on clinical parameters. 

RESULTS: In our study of 60 patients, 46 had psoriasis and 14 had lichen planus. Pitting was found to be the most common manifestation in finger nails(73.9%)

CONCLUSION: In both psoriasis and lichen planus patients pitting was found to be the most common manifestation and fingernails were more commonly affected than toenails.