and retinoid derivatives optional concentrations will vary among keratolytic agents salicylic acid for example is preferably used at about 0 5 to about 5 0 while sulfur is preferably used at about 2 0 to about 10 0 appropriate concentration ranges for any particular keratolytic agent will be apparent to those skilled in the art examples of inactive ingredients are wetting agents surfactants emollients and solvents the term 34 therapeutically effective amount 34 is used herein to denote any amount which will cause a substantial improvement in a disease condition such as a subsidence of a lesion for example when applied to the affected area repeatedly over a period of time the amount will vary with the condition being treated the stage of advancement of the condition and the type and concentration of formulation applied appropriate amounts in any given instance will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art or capable of determination by routine experimentation the compositions are generally applied in topical manner to the affected area i e localized application to the skin region where the inflammation or abnormality is manifest the following examples are offered for illustrative purposes and are intended neither to limit nor define the invention in any manner a vessel was charged with 10 grams of azelaic acid and 10 milliliters of absolute ethyl alcohol and heated slowly until warm to the resulting solution was added 50 milliliters of vehicle n or solvent g.