Existing therapies mostly include corticosteroids (e.g., hydrocortisone and prednisolone) that can trigger puffiness of the face, growth of facial hair, thinning and easy bruising of the skin, and impaired wound healing, and are not recommended for long-term use.

Non-steroidal treatment options, such as calcineurin and phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors, are available; however, they carry their own side-effects. The former (including tacrolimus and pimecrolimus) carry an associated lymphoma risk, while crisaborole (the only FDA-approved drug in the latter category) sometimes produces burning, stinging, swelling, or irritation of the skin.