PURPOSE: To obtain a drug for external use, containing a water extract of malt roots as an active ingredient, having propagating action on fibroblasts and effective in curing skin damage.

CONSTITUTION: A drug for external use, such as lotion, ointment, emulsion or cataplasma, obtained by using malt roots which are discarded with hardly any usability at present and blending a water extract thereof with an ordinary base, adjuvant therefor, etc. The malt root extract is blended in an amount of 0.5W10wt.% based on the total weight of various drugs for external use. The water extract of the malt roots prepared by pulverizing malt roots excised for producing thick malt syrup, beer, etc., and extracting the resultant powder with water by a conventional method.