The study consists of a 4 week double blind treatment period. All patients meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria will enter the study at day 0 and be randomized into either pimecrolimus cream 1% or vehicle treatment groups in a 1:1 ratio. Patients will return to clinic on days 7,14 and 28 for assessments of disease severity. Patients who experience an unsatisfactory therapeutic effect, will attend an unscheduled visit and be withdrawn from the study.