Disclosed is a pharmaceutical preparation for external application to the skin, which comprises a phosphorylated sugar. The phosphorylated sugar may be an inorganic salt of a phosphorylated sugar. The phosphorylated sugar may be in the form of a calcium salt, a magnesium salt, a potassium salt, a zinc salt, an iron salt or a sodium salt. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical preparation for external application to the skin, which comprises a phosphorylated sugar and a second component. The second component is selected from the group consisting of a moisturizing component, a skin-whitening agent, an UV-absorber, an anti-inflammatory agent, a cell-activating agent and an anti-oxidant. The moisturizing agent may be ascorbic acid or an ascorbic acid derivative.
