Humectants and keratolytics / OTC drug or prescription (U.S.)

Urea

An unglamorous humectant that outperforms most moisturizers on severely dry skin, with randomized trials on diabetic feet and xerosis.

Reviewed September 1, 20262 source links on fileHow grading works Report a correction

At a glance

U.S. status: OTC drug or prescription (U.S.)
Jobs: Very dry, rough skin · Cracked heels and feet · Keratosis pilaris · Thick scaly patches
Watch for: Concentration sets the job: 5–10% hydrates, 20–40% dissolves thick skin and can sting on cracks. Not for broken or inflamed facial skin at high strengths.
Access: Inexpensive; European brands with high urea content are widely imported.

Where it acts. A schematic, not a picture of any device or product; depth varies with settings, strength, and skin.

Listed for

Forms and strengths

5–10% creams and lotions (cosmetic/OTC)
20–40% creams and gels (OTC or Rx keratolytic)

How to use it

Low strengths once or twice daily on the body; high strengths only on thick skin, avoiding cracks and folds. Face use at 5% or less.

Side effects and cautions

Stinging on broken skin
Redness
Excess softening if over-applied

Get advice first if

Avoid high strengths on the face or genitals. Compatible with pregnancy.

Regulatory status

Cosmetic at low strengths; higher-strength keratolytics are OTC or prescription drugs depending on labeling.

Sources on file

These links support the claims above. Reviewed September 1, 2026. Drug labels link to DailyMed searches so the current label is always one click away.