Eucerin cream

What is Eucerin Urea?

Eucerin Urea is a specialised topical cream for dry, flaky, and itchy patches of skin. It also soothes itching, and supports your skin’s natural exfoliation process.^[1]

The active ingredient in Eucerin Urea is urea, known for its role as a keratin softener and hydrating agent. Urea is a key part of your skin’s natural moisturising factor (NMF), making up 8.5% of it.^[2] As part of the NMF, urea, along with amino acids, sodium PCA, and glycerol, helps your skin absorb moisture. These are all really important for keeping your outermost layer of skin healthy and hydrated, helping to repair your skin barrier.

With conditions like folliculitis, you will most likely have a compromised skin barrier (the outermost layer of the skin). When your skin barrier is compromised, your skin can become dry and easily irritated, which can lead to your folliculitis symptoms getting worse. A healthy skin barrier should be moist, rich in nutrients that maintain your NMF, and maintain the right microbial balance. This gives you protection against outside factors that can trigger folliculitis symptoms.

How does Eucerin work?

The main component of Eucerin cream is urea. Urea is a natural substance in our bodies, and it does more than just keep the outer layer of our skin hydrated. In a study involving 21 people, applying urea on the skin not only improved the skin’s protective barrier but also increased the production of substances that fight against microbes.^[3]

The study found that urea works by influencing specific proteins and genes in the skin. It enters skin cells through special transporters and stimulates the production of important proteins like transglutaminase-1, involucrin, loricrin, and filaggrin. These proteins are crucial for maintaining the skin’s structure and function. Urea also boosts the expression of antimicrobial peptides, which are substances that help our skin defend against harmful microbes.^[3]

There are different concentrations of urea that do slightly different things. When used in lower concentrations (up to 10%), urea acts as a moisturiser, keeping the skin hydrated. However, at higher concentrations (above 10%), it works as a keratolytic, which means it helps to remove dead skin cells.^[4] Urea is also helpful when combined with other medications for reducing inflammation and fighting fungi, making it easier for these drugs to penetrate the skin. This is useful for treating some fungal forms of folliculitis.

How to use Eucerin Urea

To use Eucerin urea cream, apply a thin layer to the affected area twice a day — morning and night. Make sure it’s been rubbed in properly. If you apply too much, just wipe off any excess.

Are there different forms of Eucerin Urea?

Eucerin offers a range of formulations to suit your needs, including:

• Eucerin 10% Dry Skin Foot Cream: Available in 100ml, 200ml, and 300ml sizes.
• Eucerin 5% Urea Face Night Cream: Available in 50ml, 100ml, and 150ml sizes.
• Eucerin 10% Repair Urea Cream: Offered in 100ml, 200ml, and 300ml sizes.
• Eucerin 5% Urea Cream: Available in 75ml, 150ml, and 225ml sizes.
• Eucerin 5% Urea Face Cream: Available in 50ml, 100ml, and 150ml sizes.
• Eucerin 5% Urea Hand Cream: Available in 75ml, 150ml, and 225ml sizes.