Urea, also known as carbamide, hydrates and exfoliates dry, itchy skin. It also helps manage skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Skincare products often contain urea to address flaky, itchy, scaling, or dry skin. It adds moisture and exfoliates dead skin cells, promoting new cell growth and soothing irritation. Urea can also improve the effectiveness of other ingredients.
Here are the potential benefits of using urea-containing skincare products:
- Moisturizes your skin: Urea is a humectant, meaning it can keep your skin moist by drawing water from your skin’s deeper layers and the air. Multiple studies have found that products with urea can successfully treat dry skin, particularly on the feet.
- Helps remove keratin and dead skin cells: Urea is a keratolytic agent, meaning it can break down the protein keratin in the outer layer of your skin. This may help decrease flaking and scaling skin and lessen corns or calluses.
- Supports antifungal medications: Fungal infections, like onychomycosis, are typically treated with topical or oral antifungal medications. Research suggests that using topical urea in addition to these medications may improve treatment outcomes. However, more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness.
- Improves the effectiveness of other medications: Urea may also improve the potency of other medications. One study found that urea may help medications like metronidazole penetrate the skin. However, research in humans is needed to confirm its effectiveness.
- Counters the effects of aging: Excessive sun exposure can cause your skin to age, particularly on your hands. Research has shown urea may help improve the appearance of photodamaged skin.
Urea helps maintain a strong, hydrated skin barrier and is found in many skincare products, such as body washes, moisturizers, creams, and lotions. Depending on their urea concentration, these products help remove excess dead skin cells.
For this reason, products with urea are often used to improve skin conditions that create dry, itchy, flaky, and scaly skin, like eczema and psoriasis.
A 2014 review found that urea is useful in treating the following conditions:
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
- Corns and calluses
- Ichthyosis (thick, scaly skin)
- Keratosis
- Keratoderma
- Psoriasis
- Xerosis (dry skin)
When choosing a urea product, pick one with the right concentration for your needs. Lower concentrations (2-10%) improve xerosis (dry skin). Medium concentrations (10-30%) treat atopic dermatitis (eczema) and psoriasis. Higher concentrations (30% or more) tackle ichthyosis.
After selecting the right product for your skin type and needs, follow the product instructions for application—unless a doctor has recommended specific instructions. You will typically apply the product twice a day.
Creams, lotions, and gels containing urea are often humectant emollients with a large occlusive effect—or the ability to prevent water loss and keep your skin hydrated—and can last 6-24 hours. They may leave a thicker film on your skin than products with a lower occlusive effect.
If a doctor has suggested a product containing urea, follow their instructions for use.
Otherwise, here are general steps to follow when applying urea-containing products to your entire body:
- Soak in a lukewarm bath for 5-10 minutes.
- Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser, and resist the urge to scrub your skin.
- Rinse off with lukewarm water.
- Pat your skin lightly with a towel, leaving your skin slightly damp.
- Apply any prescription topicals as directed.
- Add the urea-containing moisturizer to the rest of your body within three minutes.
- Avoid placing the urea product over areas with prescription medication.
- Wait a few minutes for the products to absorb into your skin, then get dressed.
Research indicates that topical products containing urea are usually well-tolerated. However, people with sensitive skin may have mild skin irritation, which is often more prevalent with higher percentages of urea. This reaction is usually temporary and resolves on its own.
It’s possible to have an allergic reaction, such as contact dermatitis, though this is rare and usually only happens with products containing higher amounts of urea.
Before using a product containing urea, test it on a small patch of skin at the bend of your elbow. Apply a quarter-size amount for 7-10 days. If there’s no noticeable skin reaction, you can likely continue using the product on larger areas of skin.
However, you may still want to check with a dermatologist first.
Urea appears on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medications due to its safety and effectiveness. Researchers have found that even in large doses, urea is safe for topical use long-term with a low risk of side effects.
