Ur
Urea
UreaHydrator
Pulls water into skin. At higher strengths it also softens rough, bumpy skin and cracked heels.
What it does
At low strengths it pulls water into the top layer of skin. At higher strengths it also loosens rough, built-up skin, which is why it’s used for keratosis pilaris (small rough bumps) and rough heels.
The evidence, graded
strongA lotion with 10% urea plus other natural moisturizing factors (lactic acid, amino acids and more) beat the same lotion without them on measured skin hydration. It held in two randomized, vehicle-controlled studies, at the surface and down to 15 micrometers deep. The base lacked those other humectants too, so this shows the combination works, not urea alone. All the authors work for the lotion's maker.Gallinger 2022 · Skin research and technology ↗
expert consensusKeratosis pilaris (KP) needs no treatment and often fades with time. If it bothers you, dermatologists advise gentle exfoliation without scrubbing, which tends to worsen it, then a chemical exfoliant and a moisturizer with urea or lactic acid. A clinical review notes there are no controlled trials of these treatments, and none works for everyone.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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