Golden Shower anyone?
Urea is present in your pee but what is it?
It is a component of the skin that plays an important role in maintaining hydration.
Urea, also called carbamide, is an organic crystalline compound that is a by-product made after the body uses protein. In layman’s terms? It’s part of your pee.
Urea is found in both sweat and urine. Nowadays, we consider the use of urea as a skin enhancer as “urine therapy.”
But this is not some new-found twenty-first century fad.
Aztecs and ancient Egyptians practiced urotherapy to enhance beauty.
Even aristocratic French women in the seventeenth century bathed in urine to beautify their skin. This concept is far from new!
At lower doses (≤10%), urea‐containing creams are used as a skin moisturizer, whereas at higher concentrations (>10% urea), urea‐based mixtures thin the skin (helping to remove calluses and warts, for example). Powerful stuff.
I once knew a 74-year-old woman with the MOST INCREDIBLY smooth skin, and she swore by dabbing her own pee, using cotton pads, on her face every morning!
I don't know about you but I'm off to the ladies’ room!
Don't worry, I’m not going to ask you to pee on your face!
Luckily for us most urea in today’s skincare products is synthetically produced. It is formed from ammonia and carbon dioxide and can be produced in either a solid or liquid form. It is important to look at the ingredient list on the products you put on your face and body, especially ones formulated for dry skin.
Most emollient and occlusive ingredients (such as mineral oil, petrolatum, and silicones) coat the skin’s surface making us feel instant relief from dry skin, but, it is only a temporary fix.
By using a product with urea, it penetrates the stratum corneum, where it quickly absorbs and holds water. Therefore, it truly rehydrates and moisturizes the skin.
How is this possible?
It not only holds water, but it reduces the amount of water that is lost through the skin, keeping you moisturized
Therefore skin care products with urea are useful for dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and the treatment of dry skin.
They are essential for maintaining the health, function, and hydration of the stratum corneum.
We already know that the secret to amazing skin is keeping it hydrated. If not, dehydrated skin causes horizontal lines to appear, which develop into wrinkles if not treated.
Although there is no fountain of youth, you can prevent premature ageing by keeping your skin moist. And that’s where urea comes in. With its moisturizing character, it can keep you looking youthful and radiant.
But wait, there’s more.
Urea is known to accelerate the cell renewal process. This keeps the barrier function (the acid mantle) of the skin strong, keeping you looking young.
Did you know that urea can be a great exfoliant when used in concentrations of over 10%? By removing dead skin cells from the epidermis, it improves the water-binding ability of the skin, further increasing the urea’s moisturization capabilities.
The exfoliating properties of urea help to leave the skin smooth, soft, and with a youthful glow. Two birds with one stone: exfoliant and moisturizer. Nice!
If you suffer from pimples or acne, you will find beneficial uses of urea as well. It metabolizes the acne-causing bacteria within the skin, preventing an outbreak. Kind of makes me wonder what urea can’t do!
Lesson du jour: Sometimes we must consider out-of-the-box solutions to dry skin. Maybe the fountain of youth has been discovered! And we can produce that fountain multiple times a day!
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