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Urea
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Description
Urea is a chemical compound that is used in the treatment of skin infections like eczema (dry and itchy skin) or psoriasis (a skin disease that causes red, itchy, and scaly patches). Urea is also used in treating nail problems. This medicine is used alone or in combination with other antibiotic medications for treating skin infections. Urea works by breaking down the protein in the skin and thus helps in softening the skin.
Urea may cause side effects like burning sensation, itching, irritation, swelling, etc., at the site of application. These side effects usually subside by themselves when your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if any of these effects persist or bother you.
Urea is a topical medicine available in different dosage forms such as cream, lotion, foam, ointment, suspension and gel. The dose of the medicine and the dosage form will be decided by your doctor based on your condition. Urea is for external use only. Avoid contact with eyes, mouth, and any open areas in your body. Wash and dry the affected area before application. Do not apply more than the prescribed quantity of the medicine.
Urea is not recommended if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor if you are using any other medicine for skin treatment. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or are breastfeeding before using this medicine. Urea is not recommended for use in children below 12 years of age.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Urea
Burning sensation
Skin irritation
Itching
Skin rash
Change in color and texture of the skin
Redness of skin
Uses of Urea
What is it prescribed for?
Eczema
Eczema is a skin condition that causes itchy patches, redness, swelling on the skin, and cracked skin. This condition leads to intense itching and scratching of the skin resulting in bleeding. Urea is used along with other medicines in the treatment of eczema.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes red, itchy scaly patches on the knees, elbows, chest, scalp, and other parts of the body. Itching in psoriasis is mild compared to eczema. Urea is used along with other medicines in the treatment of psoriasis and thereby provide relief from swelling and itching.
Nail infection
Urea is used along with other medicines in the treatment of nail infections and thereby makes the toenails and fingernails soft and thus minimise the need for surgery.
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
Onset of action
The amount of time required for Urea to show its action is not known.Duration of effect
The amount of time for which Urea remains active in your body is not known.Safe with alcohol?
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.Is it habit forming?
No habit-forming tendency has been reported for Urea.Usage in pregnancy?
It is not known whether Urea is safe to be used in pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant.Usage while breast-feeding?
It is not known if Urea passes into breastmilk or not. Consult your doctor before using this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
Allergy
Avoid using Urea if you are allergic to it. If you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching on the skin, hives (a skin rash triggered by a reaction to food or medicine), inform your doctor and seek immediate medical attention.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
It is not known whether Urea is safe to be used in pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant.
Breast-feeding
It is not known if Urea passes into breastmilk or not. Consult your doctor before using this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings
External use only
Urea is recommended for external use only. Avoid contact with your mouth, eyes, mucous membranes, cuts, or open wounds. Wash immediately with water in case of accidental contact.
Other medicines
Urea may interact with other topical medicines and increase the risk of side effects. Hence, inform your doctor about all your current medicines before beginning treatment with Urea.
Use in children
Urea is not recommended for use in children below 12 years of age as the safety and efficacy data is not available.
Missed Dose
If you forget to apply a dose of Urea, apply it as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not apply two doses at a time to make up for the missed dose.
Overdose
An overdose of Urea is not likely to cause severe symptoms unless it is applied for a prolonged period of time in large volumes. However, ingestion of this medicine may harm you and immediate medical intervention may be required.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Disease interactions
Disease
Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Apply a thin layer of Urea to the affected area as instructed by your doctor. Follow all the usage instructions mentioned on the label or the package insert.
Avoid applying in larger or smaller quantities than prescribed.
Avoid covering the site of application with bandages or other coverings unless specifically instructed by your doctor.
Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve even after two weeks of use.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Urea works by breaking down the keratin (a protein in the skin) and thereby softens the skin and provide relief from the symptoms.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Topical keratolytics, Topical keratolytics/soothing agents
Schedule
N/A
Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Urea. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 21 September 2021].
Hpra.ie. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 21 September 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 21 Sep 2021
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.