Urea for Seborrheic dermatitis
A small molecule your skin already makes. Low concentrations deeply hydrate dry skin; higher concentrations soften thick, scaly patches. A workhorse for eczema and ichthyosis.
Why it works for Seborrheic dermatitis
Softens thick, crusty flakes so they lift off (on the scalp, cradle cap, or behind the ears). At 10 percent and above it loosens stuck-on scale; at lower strengths it just hydrates and helps hold water in the skin. It is often used with salicylic acid before an antifungal shampoo.
How Urea works
Small humectant and natural moisturizing factor component; below 10% hydrates and supports barrier protein expression, above 10% acts keratolytically to soften thickened scale.
Evidence
4 citations from our ingredient database. Full citation list on the Urea ingredient page.
Products with Urea in our catalog
These are the catalog products that list Urea as a tracked ingredient.