What is Urea?
Urea is a renowned moisturising agent. You’ll find it in common skincare products, such as hand and face creams with urea. Its potent effect is due to its hygroscopic properties, which draw water from deep in the skin and the air into the surface, keeping it hydrated. Ingredients with these properties are known as humectants.
On the other hand, it breaks down keratin within the skin. This is often produced in areas of high friction, leading to thickened skin, e.g., corns and calluses. Urea softens the keratin, healing the underlying skin. Little wonder urea in creams is so popular – we use it in many of our products.
Benefits of Urea
Known for its dual-action power as both a humectant and exfoliant, urea draws moisture in and gently lifts away dead skin cells. Ideal for dry or flaky skin, this powerhouse ingredient not only hydrates but also strengthens the skin barrier, leaving you with smoother, healthier skin.
Discover how urea works across various concentrations to target everything from everyday dryness to stubborn rough patches. Whether it’s in moisturisers, face creams, or balms, Dermal Therapy harnesses the benefits of urea to keep your skin looking and feeling its best.
Urea vs Other Moisturisers
Urea isn’t the only moisturiser on the market. Lots of ingredients promise to soothe and hydrate your skin. These moisturisers usually come in three categories: humectants, emollients, and occlusives. Each of the categories works in a different way and has various pros and cons.
Urea is, first and foremost, a humectant, locking moisture into your skin. Find out how urea compares to other prominent ingredients. We look at glycerin, hyaluronic acid, petroleum jelly, and some oil-based emollients.
Urea for Dry Skin
Urea in creams is a standout ingredient. Known for its non-greasy, fast-absorbing texture, urea hydrates and softens without the heaviness of typical moisturisers. It works in three powerful ways:
1. as a humectant to draw in moisture
2. a keratolytic to break down calluses,
3. and a barrier support to prevent irritation.
It’s found in body lotions, face creams, hand and foot products, and scalp serums. Urea delivers powerful results within just a few days. Learn how urea tackles dry skin, why you should use it, and how to add it to your skincare routine.
Incorporating Urea into Your Skincare Routine
Urea is in so many different skincare products it’s hard to know how to add it to your skincare routine. As a powerful natural moisturising factor, urea pulls water into your skin and holds it there. But, at higher concentrations, it can begin to break down tough sections of dry, scaly skin.
Urea at low concentrations (5-10%) is suitable for daily use on sensitive areas, while higher concentrations (20-30%) are ideal for areas like elbows and heels where the skin is thicker and rougher.
We advise you on the different types of creams with urea and what you should do to get the best results. Given that different skin types can be more or less sensitive to urea-based products, it’s crucial to get a solid understanding of the evidence.
Learn more about how to incorporate urea into your skincare routine.
Myths About Urea
Urea for Skin Conditions
Urea isn’t just suitable for dry and cracked skin. It’s a popular ingredient in therapeutic creams for common skin conditions. Urea is used to treat:
If you’ve got any of the above conditions, urea can help soothe your dry, scaly skin. It keeps your skin hydrated and works both as a treatment for flare-ups and as a long-term protective ingredient. Creams with urea are highly effective.
Learn more about using urea for your skin condition. We cover everything you need to know, from mechanisms of action to the best concentrations.
