Methods for treating chronic wounds in a human are described by topically administering a dermatological composition comprising a TNF antagonist, a TACE inhibitor, a neutrophil antagonist, or a combination of a TNF antagonist and/or TACE inhibitor and a neutrophil antagonist. The TNF antagonist administered includes alefacept, efalizumab, etanercept, adalimumab, and onercept, while the neutrophil antagonist administered includes dapsone, colchicine, its analogs and prodrugs. The combination of TNF-antagonist and neutrophil antagonist administered includes sulfapyridine, sulfasalazine, mesalamine, and derivatives and prodrugs thereof. The topical compositions can be formulated to include the one or more of the antagonists in dissolved, semi-dissolved, and micro-particulate states.