Linalool and other materials which are skin penetrating vasodilators or which can be made to have such properties are applied, either by themselves or in skin treatment compositions, to the skin of the head and especially the back of the neck to prevent or alleviate the effects of migraine headaches or applied to sore muscles or ligaments to aid in minimizing the soreness, or are applied to wrinkled and/or old looking skin on the face, neck, torso, or extremities, other than on the hands, to minimize wrinkles and/or improve the skin's appearance and/or are applied to the head to grow hair on the head or prevent hair loss.