| abstract |
Preventive as well as therapeutic treatment to alleviate the symptoms of disorders characterized by cracking, flaking, or scaling of the skin consisting of the topical application of a solution, lotion, gel, stick, powder, cream or ointment containing as active ingredients one or more hydroxy acid or its analogue is disclosed. The hydroxyacid and its analogues include free acid, amide, lactone, ester, anhydride, organic or inorganic salt form of hydroxymonocarboxylic acids, hydroxydicarboxylic acids, hydroxytricarboxylic acids and keto acids. The therapeutic composition may include one or more of the compounds present in the total amount of from 0.1 to 20 percent. Topical application to affected areas has been found to ameliorate dry skin conditions. |