Urea cream is the best evidence based cream for dry, cracked heels…
And did you know it has many other uses?!
- It’s also a great adjunct treatment for many skin conditions, such as: psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, Tinea Pedis, Palmoplantar Keratodermis – just to name a few!
- At higher concentrations it is fantastic for restoring integrity to dry, damaged nails or to nails suffering from a fungal infection.
How does it work?
Urea is actually a naturally occurring molecule in the skin and is essential for maintaining hydration and integrity of the skin through its ability to absorb water. It also has keratolytic properties to break down outer layers of dead skin, regulating keratinocyte proliferation.
This all helps to soothe dry, calloused and/or itchy skin and improves its overall appearance. It also improves skin barrier function and has antimicrobial properties.
Urea improves penetration of other topical drug treatments, because it aids the transport of molecules through the skin and nails due to its water absorption properties among other things.
Stronger concentrations (40-50%) can even help with some nail conditions. Studies have shown that using a 40% urea cream in combination with a topical antifungal can improve clinical results of fungal infections in 29%-85% of cases.
What kind of urea cream is for you?
For thick heel callous that is cracked and prone to bleeding:
- A 20-30% urea cream is best. You may be able to reduce to a lower percentage as your callous reduces.
You will need to be diligent with daily applications and a few visits to a Podiatrist to debride the callous down to a more manageable level is recommended – usually about every 4-6 weeks until under control.
For light callous and just maintaining skin integrity:
- 10-15% will be just right for you!
For thick, dry, brittle nails or nails infected with a fungal infection, or recovering from a fungal infection:
- 30-40% is for you. Less than this, it will not be strong enough to effect change in the nail. Remember to be diligent, applying it daily – all nail conditions are slow to treat and need consistency.
40% urea cream/ointment is hard to come by without a prescription and a compound pharmacy and tends to be very runny and messy to use.
30% urea creams on the other hand are readily available without prescription, easy to use and we have had clients display some excellent results.
Why is maintaining healthy skin integrity important?
- It is our body’s largest organ and barrier for keeping out pathogens and infections
- If you damage healthy skin, e.g. a cut/wound/ulcer, then the injury will heal much faster than if your skin is dry/calloused/unhealthy
- Callouses on our feet are the body’s protective response to high pressure zones, but they can become painful and problematic if they grow too thick, in severe cases they can even lead to ulcers and infections.
- Callous that builds up so much that it cracks, can sometimes bleed. Any open cut/bleed is a risk to infection.
Unsure if urea cream is necessary for you?
Chat to your Podiatrist, GP or Dermatologist to see if urea is an appropriate treatment for your skin or nails. These professionals can help recommend what percentage of urea is likely to be effective for your condition and how often you should apply it.
References:
Piquero-Casals, J, et al. 2021, “Urea in Dermatology: A Review of its Emollient, Moisturizing, Keratolytic, Skin Barrier Enhancing and Antimicrobial Properties”