embodiment of my invention a dispersion of colloidal sulfur is formed by beating sulfur in a polyalcohol or ether or ester derivative thereof in a mixture with a diketone to produce a colloidal sulfur solution which may then be mixed in a carrier fluid e g aqueous media fats such as cream commonly employed in producing salves and ointments or mineral or vegetable oils commonly used in producing dermatological formulations and applied topically examples of useful products include creams lotions solutions ointments and unguents containing colloidal sulfur solutions the concentration of diketone in the formulation is not critical and can vary over a wide range typically however the diketone will be present in an amount in a range of 5 40 by weight which is sufficient to permit about 7 by weight dispersion of sulfur in the formulation the formulation may contain additional ingredients on an optional basis including both those which are biologically active and those which are biologically inactive examples of biologically active ingredients are amine and u201c caine u201d type local anesthetics antihistamines corticosteroids alcohol 39 s counterirritants and combinations of these agents specific examples within these groups include butaman benzocaine dibucaine paramoxine dimethisoquin dyclonine lidocaine tetracaine camphor benzyl alcohol menthyl phenol phenolated sodium resorcinol tar camphorated metacresol diphenhydramine tripelennamine hydrocortisone histamine methyl nicotinate capsicum methyl salicylate turpentine oil allyl isothiocyanate ammonia and salicylic acid the concentrations of these active ingredients can range from 0 025 to 60 the most appropriate amounts in each case depending on the agents appropriate concentration ranges from any particular agent will be apparent to those skilled in the art the diketone should be.