PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an external pharmaceutical composition which contains clobetasone and/or ester thereof as an active ingredient, is suitable for atopic dermatitis, causes no transient stimulus, has sufficient antiseptic power without substantially containing paraben, and is excellent in physical stability.SOLUTION: An oil in water emulsion external pharmaceutical composition which does not substantially contain paraben and contains 1,3-butylene glycol is emulsified only with one or two kinds of nonionic surfactants selected from polyoxyethylene cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene hardened castor oil, sorbitan stearic acid ester, and glycerol stearic acid ester.