A compound of formula for use in the treatment or prevention of seborrheic keratosis: wherein: X represents CO, CHOZ or CHNRZ; Z is selected from hydrogen; straight-chain and branched (C 1 -C 6) alkyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkenyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkynyl; (C 3 - C 8) cycloalkyl; (C 6 -C 24) aryl; (C 7 -C 24) aralkyl; m- and p-CH 2 (C 6 H 4)COOM; COR 3; CSR 3; C(NR 6)R 3; SOR 4; SO 2 R 3 R 3 N; SO 2 OM; SO 2 NR 7 R 8; SO 2 O-artemisinyl; SO 2 NH-artemisinyl; POR 4 R 5; PSR 4 R 5; and SO 2 R 3; R 3 is selected from straight-chain or branched (C 1 -C 6) alkyl; straight-chain or branched (C 1 -C 6) alkoxy; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkenyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkynyl; (C 3 -C 8) cycloalkyl; (C 6 -C 24) aryl; (C 6 -C 10) aryloxy; (C 7 -C 24) aralkyl; -(CH 2) n -COOM, with n being an integer of from 1 to 6; and 10α-dihydroartemisinyl; R 4 and R 5 are independently selected from straight-chain or branched (C 1 -C 6) alkyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkenyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkynyl; (C 3 -C 8) cycloalkyl; (C 6 -C 24) aryl; (C 7 -C 24) aralkyl; OM; straight-chain or branched (C 1 -C 6) alkoxy; (C 6 -C 10) aryloxy; and NR 7 R 8; R 6 is selected from straight-chain or branched (C 1 -C 6) alkyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkenyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkynyl; (C 3 -C 8) cycloalkyl; (C 6 -C 24) aryl; and (C 7 -C 24) aralkyl; M represents hydrogen or a pharmaceutically acceptable cation; R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from straight-chain or branched (C 1 -C 6) alkyl, or R 7 and R 8 together form a (C 4 -C 6) alkylene bridge; and R is selected from hydrogen; straight-chain or branched (C 1 -C 6) alkyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkenyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkynyl; (C 3 -C 8) cycloalkyl; (C 6 -C 24) aryl; and (C 7 -C 24) aralkyl; and wherein said treatment or prevention comprises the local administration of the compound to a subject in need thereof. X represents CO, CHOZ or CHNRZ; Z is selected from hydrogen; straight-chain and branched (C 1 -C 6) alkyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkenyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkynyl; (C 3 - C 8) cycloalkyl; (C 6 -C 24) aryl; (C 7 -C 24) aralkyl; m- and p-CH 2 (C 6 H 4)COOM; COR 3; CSR 3; C(NR 6)R 3; SOR 4; SO 2 R 3 R 3 N; SO 2 OM; SO 2 NR 7 R 8; SO 2 O-artemisinyl; SO 2 NH-artemisinyl; POR 4 R 5; PSR 4 R 5; and SO 2 R 3; R 3 is selected from straight-chain or branched (C 1 -C 6) alkyl; straight-chain or branched (C 1 -C 6) alkoxy; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkenyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkynyl; (C 3 -C 8) cycloalkyl; (C 6 -C 24) aryl; (C 6 -C 10) aryloxy; (C 7 -C 24) aralkyl; -(CH 2) n -COOM, with n being an integer of from 1 to 6; and 10α-dihydroartemisinyl; R 4 and R 5 are independently selected from straight-chain or branched (C 1 -C 6) alkyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkenyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkynyl; (C 3 -C 8) cycloalkyl; (C 6 -C 24) aryl; (C 7 -C 24) aralkyl; OM; straight-chain or branched (C 1 -C 6) alkoxy; (C 6 -C 10) aryloxy; and NR 7 R 8; R 6 is selected from straight-chain or branched (C 1 -C 6) alkyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkenyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkynyl; (C 3 -C 8) cycloalkyl; (C 6 -C 24) aryl; and (C 7 -C 24) aralkyl; M represents hydrogen or a pharmaceutically acceptable cation; R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from straight-chain or branched (C 1 -C 6) alkyl, or R 7 and R 8 together form a (C 4 -C 6) alkylene bridge; and R is selected from hydrogen; straight-chain or branched (C 1 -C 6) alkyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkenyl; straight-chain or branched (C 2 -C 6) alkynyl; (C 3 -C 8) cycloalkyl; (C 6 -C 24) aryl; and (C 7 -C 24) aralkyl; and wherein said treatment or prevention comprises the local administration of the compound to a subject in need thereof.