Leukonychia Punctata and Pitted Nails in Alopecia Areata

To the Editor.—  The conclusion drawn by Dotz et al¹ in the November 1985 issue of the Archives on the similarity of the pitting in psoriasis and alopecia areata is questionable. Some years ago Ganor² suggested that the pitting of the nails described in alopecia areata might be an expression of psoriasis. This could explain the histologic report of Dotz and colleagues and their disagreement with Alkiewicz³ who did not find parakeratotic cells in cases of alopecia areata with pitted nails.