Vehicle and method is disclosed for treating and/or preventing skin disorders such as acne vulgaris and which exfoliates healthy skin by a topical application. The vehicle is a formulation incorporating hypohalous acid in a suitable pharmaceutical compound. The topical application comprises administering and scrubbing a therapeutically effective amount of hypohalous acid in the vehicle. The hypohalous acid may be hypochlorous acid, hypobromous acid, or hypoiodious acid. The suitable pharmaceutical vehicles include water, solutions, cleansers, lotion, cream, paper facial masks, and gels. The scrubbing action on the skin is exerted by a mechanic tool, such as hand, cloth towel, sponge, brush, and spraying device. Methods of preparing and compounding the vehicle for topical application and of its use are also set forth.