A composition comprising 0.001% to 20% by weight of an aromatic aldehyde selected from the group consisting of 2- ethoxybenzaldehyde, 4-ethoxybenzaldehyde, 4-propoxybenzaldehyde, 4-butoxybenzaldehyde, 4-pentyloxybenzaldehyde, and 4-hexyloxybenzaldehyde and a pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable topical carrier.