How is Hailey-Hailey disease treated?

Topical steroids are generally helpful in relieving burning and itching. Both Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans infections may exacerbate lesions, requiring treatment with appropriate antibacterial and antifungal agents. Recalcitrant cases have been treated with localized steroid injections, carbon dioxide laser, dermabrasion, topical cyclosporine, dapsone, vitamin E, psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA), methotrexate, thalidomide, and vitamin D analogs, with variable results.

Aoki T: 1-Alpha,24-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (tacalcitol) is effective against Hailey-Hailey disease both in vivo and in vitro, Br J Dermatol 139:897–901, 1998.

Kartamaa M: Familial benign chronic pemphigus (Hailey-Hailey disease): treatment with carbon dioxide laser vaporization, Arch Dermatol 128:646–648, 1992.