Ideally, after about 3 weeks, an emollient, vitamin D3 analog, or calcineurin inhibitor should be substituted for the corticosteroid for 1 to 2 weeks (as a rest period); this substitution limits corticosteroid dosage, reduces risk of topical corticosteroid adverse effects (eg, skin atrophy, telangiectasias, easy bruising, striae), and prevents tachyphylaxis (diminishing response to an agent after successive dosing).