Every so often, an ingredient comes along and completely revolutionizes skin care. With just a few uses, products containing this ingredient give you the dewy, firm, healthy skin you’ve always wanted. Lately, urea has been having a moment, and for a good reason. This naturally-occurring compound quickly and effectively heals your dry skin while promoting barrier function and skin permeability. Incorporate it into your skin care routine to see the difference and read on to see what this amazing ingredient can do for you.
What is Urea Anyway?
As we mentioned before, urea is a naturally-occurring compound. When your body absorbs and uses protein from the foods you eat, your liver releases urea into your bloodstream. It’s also present on your skin. Usually, healthy skin has approximately 28 micrograms of urea per square centimeter, but if you suffer from a skin condition, such as psoriasis or eczema, you could have up to 80% less than someone with normal skin. Urea serves as a natural moisturizer, so it’s important to consider adding it to your skin care routine if you have dry skin.
How Can It Help My Skin?
Retaining Moisture
Products that contain urea have been known to lessen the symptoms of dry skin. More of it on your skin results in an increase in your skin’s water-binding capacity, which means effectively locking in the moisture your skin craves. Dry skin, begone!
Barrier Maintenance
We’re always talking about the skin barrier and how important it is to maintain your acid mantle. Urea can help you do that by speeding up the renewal of skin cells, which keeps your skin looking healthy and youthful. Plus, you’ll be able to better resist irritants in the future, so you can say goodbye to your skin allergies once and for all.
Pain Relief
Fun fact: urea shows anaesthetic qualities, so you can use it for local pain relief. This is especially true if you have a skin condition; it can break the cycle of flare-ups and uncomfortable inflammation. Sounds good to us!
Exfoliation
Exfoliation should be a part of every skin care routine, but it’s easier said than done for those of us with sensitive skin. Enter urea! Because it works together with the compounds that build the skin at the molecular level, it naturally and gently removes dead cells from the surface of the skin.
Permeability
When you have sensitive skin, you know that it’s hard for the ingredients in prescription creams or other medicines to effectively penetrate and heal your skin. Using a product that contains urea increases your skin’s permeability, allowing other active ingredients to pass through your skin more easily. You’ll be well on your way to healing!
Want to add a little urea to your skin care regimen? Sebamed offers a variety of lotions and creams that contain this powerful moisturizer. Check them out here.
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I?m impressed, I must say. Really rarely do I encounter a blog that?s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. Your idea is outstanding; the issue is something that not enough people are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy that I stumbled across this in my search for something relating to this.
Hi Marcella! Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re so glad you’re enjoying our content! We also think urea is kind of AWESOME! 🙂 If there are any topics you’d be interested in hearing us cover please feel free to send us an email. Best wishes.