Creams That Contain Lactic Acid or Salicylic Acid & Urea
Lactic acid, salicylic acid and urea are all keratolytics that are often used in the treatment of skin conditions such as psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, corns and calluses. Drugs.com explains that keratolytics help to loosen and shed rough, hard, scaly skin. Some medicines may interact with these keratolytics, but Drugs.com says that risk tends to be low because little, if any, of the substances are absorbed into the blood. Lactic acid, salicylic acid and urea may cause some mild, temporary burning, itching irritation or stinging.
Eucerin
Several products sold under the Eucerin brand name contain both lactic acid and urea. Eucerin products are available over the counter at many retail and online stores. According to the company’s Ingredients Database, Eucerin does not produce any products that combine salicylic acid and urea 3.
Dermal Therapy
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Dermal Therapy specializes in urea-based skin moisturizers. Both lactic acid and urea can be found in nine of the company’s products, according to Dermal Therapy’s online ingredient list. The products are: Heel Care; Finger Care; Hand, Elbow and Knee Cream; Body Lotion; Face Care; Foot Massage; Alphy Hydroxy; Barrier Lotion; and Massage Relief Cream. Dermal Therapy is also available over the counter from a wide variety of retailers.
- Dermal Therapy specializes in urea-based skin moisturizers.
- Both lactic acid and urea can be found in nine of the company’s products, according to Dermal Therapy’s online ingredient list.
Bianca Rosa
Bianca Rosa Salicylic Acid USP/Urea combines both 3 percent salicylic acid and 20 percent urea in a cream marketed for the treatment of mild acne. Zooscape.com, which sells the cream, says it should be used morning and night, or as directed by a doctor 4.
Kerasal
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Kerasal Foot Exfoliating Moisturizer contains 5 percent salicylic acid and 10 percent urea 1. It’s marketed as a treatment for dry, scaly or callused feet. The combination of ingredients is designed to help remove dead skin and soften feet. Kerasal is available online and at many major retail outlets 1.
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References
- Kerasal
- Cleveland Clinic: Psoriasis
- Eucerin: Ingredients Database
- The American Journal of Managed Care. Overview of atopic dermatitis. Published June 19, 2017.
- McLean WH. The allergy gene: how a mutation in a skin protein revealed a link between eczema and asthma. F1000 Med Rep. 2011;3:2. Published 2011 Jan 14. doi:10.3410/M3-2
- Tang SC, Yang JH. Dual effects of alpha-hydroxy acids on the skin. Molecules. 2018;23(4):863. doi:10.3390/molecules23040863
- Spada F, Barnes TM, Greive KA. Skin hydration is significantly increased by a cream formulated to mimic the skin's own natural moisturizing systems. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2018;11:491–497. doi:10.2147/CCID.S177697
- Winterton S, Daly S. What is the best treatment for plantar warts? Evidence-Based Practice. 2018 Jun;21(6):12. doi:10.1097/01.EBP.0000545158.92446.cd
- Ockenfels HM. Therapeutic management of cutaneous and genital warts. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2016;14(9):892-899. doi:10.1111/ddg.12838
- Simon D, Nobbe S, Nägeli M, et al. Short- and long-term effects of two emollients on itching and skin restoration in xerotic eczema. Dermatol Ther. 2018;31(6):e12692. doi:10.1111/dth.12692
- van Zuuren EJ, Fedorowicz Z, Christensen R, Lavrijsen A, Arents BWM. Emollients and moisturisers for eczema. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2(2):CD012119. Published 2017 Feb 6. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012119.pub2
- Cleveland Clinic. Understanding the ingredients in skin care products. Updated March 1, 2015.
- Pan M, Heinecke G, Bernardo S, Tsui C, Levitt J. Urea: a comprehensive review of the clinical literature. Dermatol Online J. 2013;19(11):20392. Published 2013 Nov 15.
- Jacobi A, Mayer A, Augustin M. Keratolytics and emollients and their role in the therapy of psoriasis: a systematic review. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2015;5(1):1-18. doi:10.1007/s13555-015-0068-3
- Bhanot A, Huntley A, Ridd MJ. Adverse events from emollient use in eczema: A restricted review of published data. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2019;9(2):193-208. doi:10.1007/s13555-019-0284-3
- Ademola J, Frazier C, Kim SJ, Theaux C, Saudez X. Clinical evaluation of 40% urea and 12% ammonium lactate in the treatment of xerosis. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2002;3(3):217-222. doi:10.2165/00128071-200203030-00007
- National Eczema Association. Controlling eczema by moisturizing.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Alpha hydroxy acids. Updated May 7, 2019.
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Writer Bio
Carol Ochs is an award-winning writer in the Washington, D.C. area. During 17 years with The Associated Press she covered health, medical and sports stories as a writer, editor and producer. She has written for the health section of "The Washington Post," a Fairfax County stewardship publication and a biopharmaceutical newsletter. Ochs has a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Ohio University, Athens.