Ur
Urea
UreaHydrator
Dual-action humectant + keratolytic depending on concentration. 5% hydrates; 10%+ also exfoliates.
What it does
At low percentages (3–5%) urea behaves as a humectant, drawing water into the stratum corneum. At higher percentages (10%+) it also softens and breaks down corneocytes — useful for keratosis pilaris and rough heels. No pregnancy concerns have been raised for it in the literature, though it hasn't been studied in pregnancy specifically.
The evidence, graded
strongA 10% urea moisturiser beat its own base formula on measured skin hydration. Two vehicle-controlled clinical studies showed the gain, both at the surface and down to 15 micrometres deep.Gallinger 2022 · Skin research and technology ↗
expert consensusKeratosis pilaris (KP) responds well to chemical exfoliation (glycolic, lactic, salicylic, urea) and topical retinoids on the body. Physical scrubs typically irritate without improving the underlying follicular keratin plugs.Pennycook 2023 · StatPearls ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Pairs worth knowing
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