The effect of two urea-containing creams on dry, eczematous skin in atopic patients. II. Adverse effects

The management of atopic dermatitis includes moisturizing creams to reduce the dryness. The adverse skin reactions during topical treatment with two medicinal moisturizers were monitored in a double-blind randomized study on two parallel groups of patients with dry, eczematous skin. One cream contained 4% urea and 4% sodium chloride as active ingredients (23 patients), and the other 5% urea (25 patients). The patients were asked to apply the cream at least once daily for 30 days. The cream containing urea and salt induced skin sensations in about 60% of the patients. Significantly fewer patients experienced sensations with the 5% urea cream. Interestingly, no correlation was found between the severity of the dry skin condition and the degree of smarting. The degree of smarting did not change from day 15 to day 31. The face was reported by the patients to be most sensitive area and five patients (four in one group and one in the other) discontinued or reduced treatment of that area