The invention relates to vitamin D analogs of general formula (I) wherein: R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom or a substituent selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, CH.sub.2 OH, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH, OCH.sub.3, OCH.sub.2 OH, OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH and OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH; R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom or a substituent selected from the group consisting of OCH.sub.3, OCH.sub.2 OH, CH.sub.m (CH.sub.2 OH).sub.n (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH).sub.p, (CH.sub.2).sub.q OH and O(CH.sub.2).sub.r OH; wherein: m is 0 or 1, p, q and n are 0-3, r is 1-3 and m+n+p=3; with the proviso that R.sub.1 and/or R.sub.2 contain at least one OH group; R.sub.3 is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon of 6-13 C atoms which may be substituted with one or more substituents from the group hydroxy or fluoro. The invention further relates to methods of preparing these compounds, a pharmaceutical composition containing these compounds and to their use in pharmacotherapy and cosmetics. ##STR1##