A method for topically treating rosacea is disclosed. In this method, an active material having the formula given below is applied to the patient at the site of said rosacea: wherein R<；1 >；is selected from -OH and C1-C3 alkyl OH； and R<；2>；, R<；3>；, R<；4>；, R<；5 >；and R<；6 >；are independently selected from -H, -OH, C1-C6 alkyl, and C3-C6 cycloalkyl. Preferred active materials include 1,2-cyclohexanediol, 1,3-cyclohexanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanediol, and mixtures of those materials. Methods for treating acne vulgaris, as well as colds, flu, sinusitis, and ear infections, using these actives are also disclosed.
