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Restore Moisture and Soothe Rough, Dry Skin with Urea
Ascellos Urea is a powerful humectant and keratolytic agent that hydrates, exfoliates, and supports the skin barrier. It’s widely used in skincare and wound care settings to soften thickened skin, improve hydration, and enhance the absorption of other topical treatments.
What Is Urea?
Urea is a naturally occurring compound found in the skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF). It attracts and retains moisture, helping to keep skin soft and flexible. In higher concentrations, urea gently breaks down hardened or scaly skin, making it easier to shed dead cells and reveal smoother, healthier tissue beneath.
Through the Urea Cycle, the body converts toxic ammonia into urea, a less toxic substance that can be excreted from the body through urine.
How Does It Work?
At lower concentrations (5–10%), urea acts as a moisture magnet—drawing water into the outer layers of the skin. At higher concentrations (20–40%), it helps break down keratin buildup in thick or callused skin. This dual action makes urea effective for a wide range of skin conditions.
- Hydration: Boosts water retention in the stratum corneum.
- Exfoliation: Softens and dissolves dead skin cells in dry, scaly areas.
- Barrier repair: Helps restore natural skin defenses in damaged or inflamed skin.
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What Are the Benefits?
- Deep hydration for rough, flaky, or dry skin
- Smoother skin texture and reduced scaling
- Enhanced effectiveness of other topicals by improving penetration
- Relief from calluses, eczema, psoriasis, and thickened nails
Where Is It Used?
- Dermatology: Managing xerosis, keratosis pilaris, and scaling conditions.
- Podiatry: Softening calluses, corns, and cracked heels.
- Wound care: Preparing thickened or necrotic tissue for better healing.
- Cosmetic use: As a hydration booster in skincare routines.
What Are the Considerations?
- Concentration matters: Higher percentages offer more exfoliation but may cause irritation on sensitive skin.
- Application guidance: Avoid mucous membranes and open wounds.
- Patient type: Well tolerated for most users but patch testing is advised for those with very sensitive skin.
- Combination therapy: Can be used alongside corticosteroids or emollients for enhanced results.
Resources
- Wang, H., Ran, J., Jiang, T. (2014). Urea. In: Yang, B., Sands, J. (eds) Urea Transporters. Subcellular Biochemistry, vol 73. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9343-8_2
- Pan, M., Heinecke, G., Bernardo, S., Tsui, C., & Levitt, J. (2013). Urea: a comprehensive review of the clinical literature. Dermatology online journal, 19(11).
