Urea-containing cream

{{Short description|Dermatologic drug}}

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| image = Urea 2D & Urea 3D.png

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| caption = 2D and 3D image of urea molecule

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| tradename = Decubal, Carmol 40, Keralac, others

| Drugs.com = {{Drugs.com|mtm|urea-topical}}

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| pregnancy_US = C

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| routes_of_administration = Topical

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| CAS_number_Ref = {{cascite|correct|CAS}}

| CAS_number = 57-13-6

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| UNII = 8W8T17847W

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| ATC_prefix = D02

| ATC_suffix = AE01

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Urea, also known as carbamide-containing cream,{{clarify|reason=what kind of base is used as the cream?|date=November 2020}} is used as a medication and applied to the skin to treat dryness and itching such as may occur in psoriasis, dermatitis, or ichthyosis.{{cite book|title=British national formulary : BNF 69|date=2015|publisher=British Medical Association|isbn=9780857111562|edition=69|pages=796–798}}{{cite web|title=Urea topical medical facts from Drugs.com|url=https://www.drugs.com/mtm/urea-topical.html|website=www.drugs.com|access-date=15 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118043117/https://www.drugs.com/mtm/urea-topical.html|archive-date=18 January 2017}} It may also be used to soften nails.

In adults side effects are generally few.{{cite book| vauthors = Paradisis M, El Hachem M, Diociaiuti A, Giannetti A | chapter = Ichthyoses | veditors = Katsambas A, Lotti T, Dessinioti C, D'Erme AM |title=European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments |date=2015 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9783662451397 |page=439|edition=3rd | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=fHi6CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA439 |language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116172421/https://books.google.ca/books?id=fHi6CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA439|archive-date=2017-01-16}} It may occasionally cause skin irritation.{{cite book | title = WHO Model Formulary 2008 | year = 2009 | isbn = 9789241547659 | vauthors = ((World Health Organization)) | veditors = Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR | hdl = 10665/44053 | author-link = World Health Organization | publisher = World Health Organization | page = 310 }} Urea works in part by loosening dried skin.{{cite web|title=Urea Cream - FDA prescribing information, side effects and uses|url=https://www.drugs.com/pro/urea-cream.html|website=www.drugs.com|access-date=15 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118043309/https://www.drugs.com/pro/urea-cream.html|archive-date=18 January 2017}} Preparations generally contain 5 to 50% urea.

Urea containing creams have been used since the 1940s.{{cite book| vauthors = Harding CR, Bartolone J, Rawlings AV | chapter = Effects of natural moisturizing factor and lactic acid isomers on skin function. | veditors = Loden M, Maibach HI |title=Dry Skin and Moisturizers: Chemistry and Function|date=1999|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=9780849375200|page=235| chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=JpfgVgb62nsC&pg=PA235|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116172650/https://books.google.ca/books?id=JpfgVgb62nsC&pg=PA235|archive-date=2017-01-16}} It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.{{cite book | vauthors = ((World Health Organization)) | title = The selection and use of essential medicines 2023: web annex A: World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 23rd list (2023) | year = 2023 | hdl = 10665/371090 | author-link = World Health Organization | publisher = World Health Organization | location = Geneva | id = WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2023.02 | hdl-access=free }} It is available over the counter.