// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did urea-containing cream say? "I'm a great moisturizer, you can rely on me, I'm urea-ly helping.
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| Trade names | Decubal, Carmol 40, Keralac, others |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Multum Consumer Information |
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| Routes of administration | Topical |
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Urea-containing cream, also known as carbamide-containing cream,[clarification needed] is used as a medication and applied to the skin to treat dryness and itching such as may occur in psoriasis, dermatitis, or ichthyosis.[1][2][3] It may also be used to soften nails.[3]
In adults side effects are generally few.[4] It may occasionally cause skin irritation.[1] Urea works in part by loosening dried skin.[5] Preparations generally contain 5 to 50% urea.[2][3]
Urea containing creams have been used since the 1940s.[6] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[7] It is available over the counter.[3]
Medical uses
[edit]Urea cream is indicated for debridement and promotion of normal healing of skin areas with hyperkeratosis, particularly where healing is inhibited by local skin infection, skin necrosis, fibrinous or itching debris or eschar.[5] Specific condition with hyperkeratosis where urea cream is useful include:
Side effects
[edit]Common side effects of urea cream are:
In severe cases, there can be an allergic reaction with symptoms such as skin rash, urticaria, difficulty breathing and swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue.[8]
Mechanism of action
[edit]Urea in low doses is a humectant while at high doses (above 20%) it causes breakdown of protein in the skin.[9]
Urea dissolves the intercellular matrix of the cells of the stratum corneum, promoting desquamation of scaly skin, eventually resulting in softening of hyperkeratotic areas.[5] In nails, urea causes softening and eventually debridement of the nail plate.[5]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR, eds. (2009). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. p. 310. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 978-92-4-154765-9.
- 1 2 British national formulary: BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. pp. 796–798. ISBN 978-0-85711-156-2.
- 1 2 3 4 "Urea topical medical facts from Drugs.com". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
- ↑ Paradisis M, El Hachem M, Diociaiuti A, Giannetti A (2015). "Ichthyoses". In Katsambas A, Lotti T, Dessinioti C, D'Erme AM (eds.). European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments (3rd ed.). Springer. p. 439. ISBN 978-3-662-45139-7. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Urea Cream - FDA prescribing information, side effects and uses". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
- ↑ Harding CR, Bartolone J, Rawlings AV (1999). "Effects of natural moisturizing factor and lactic acid isomers on skin function.". In Loden M, Maibach HI (eds.). Dry Skin and Moisturizers: Chemistry and Function. CRC Press. p. 235. ISBN 978-0-8493-7520-0. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017.
- ↑ The selection and use of essential medicines, 2025: WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 24th list. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2025. hdl:10665/382243.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Urea Cream (Consumer Information)". Drugs.com. 4 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 February 2011.
- ↑ Sethi A, Kaur T, Malhotra SK, Gambhir ML (2016). "Moisturizers: The Slippery Road". Indian Journal of Dermatology. 61 (3): 279–287. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.182427. PMC 4885180. PMID 27293248.
