Psoriasis in mammals is relieved by topically administering naphthalenes of the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 is lower alkoxy or optionally substituted phenoxy,R.sup.2 is the same as R.sup.1, or R.sup.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, optionally substituted phenyl or optionally substituted phenylalkyl,R.sup.3 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo, optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted phenyl-lower-alkyl or optionally substituted phenyl-lower-alkoxy, and m is 1 or 2;both X groups are the same and X is either --C(O)OR.sup.4 or --C(O)NR.sup.5 R.sup.6, whereinR.sup.4 is alkyl, phenyl or benzyl optionally substituted with one or two lower alkyl groups, lower alkoxy groups or halo; andR.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or phenyl optionally substituted with one or two lower alkyl groups, lower alkoxy groups or halo.The compounds of this invention are also useful for the treatment of disease-states caused by lipoxygenase activity in mammals, particularly 5-lipoxygenase activity, when administered systemically.