The invention provides a biological dressing for treatment of a dermatologicaldisease comprised of a gum resin, a topically acceptable volatile solvent, anda pharmacologically active agent. The gum resin is present in a suitableamount that the composition, when the solvent evaporates, will dry to form asolid coating that sticks to the skin or mucosal membrane to which thecomposition is applied and maintain the pharmacologically active agent over asustained period of time in contact with sites on the skin or mucosalmembranes exhibiting symptoms of the disease. Methods are provided fortreating symptoms of dermatological diseases with such a pharmacologicalcomposition. Biological dressings including tincture of benzoin andclotrimazole are shown to be efficacious for the long-term amelioration ofsymptoms of athlete's foot.
