Urea is the main ingredient in many topical skin creams that are most often used as skin moisturizers. Urea cream has several other potential uses, such as treating nail fungus and cervicitis. You can use urea cream topically by applying it to your skin, but you shouldn’t take it by mouth. You should discuss any potential side effects or interactions with other medications with your physician before using urea cream.

Skin Moisturizer

You can use urea cream topically as a skin moisturizer. Urea cream acts as an emollient to soften the skin, explains the University of Michigan Health System. Urea also acts to remove dead skin, states the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. You should not apply urea cream on any skin areas with wounds or eczema or on skin that is sunburned, chapped or irritated.

Acne Treatment

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If you have acne, applying urea cream to your skin may help to clear it up. Topical urea creams are often used to treat acne, notes the University of Michigan Health System. When you’re applying urea cream to your face to treat acne, keep the cream away from your mouth, eyes and nose because it may cause burning, warns UPMC.

Treating Nail Fungus

Urea cream may also help to treat some nail conditions, particularly nail fungus, reports UPMC. When you apply urea cream topically to your nails, it can help to increase the absorption of topical antifungal medications for the nails, the Mayo Clinic explains. You likely won’t see a complete cure of fungal nail conditions from using urea cream alone, however.

Cervicitis Treatment

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Urea cream may help to treat cervicitis. Cervicitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the cervix in women, the Mayo Clinic explains. When you apply urea cream vaginally, it can help to treat cervicitis and reduce inflammation, notes UPMC. You should consult your doctor before using urea cream vaginally to treat cervicitis, especially if you’re pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breast-feeding.