What is urea cream?

Urea cream contains carbamide, an emollient agent that breaks down, moistens and softens dry, calloused, cracked or hardened skin on the elbows, hands or feet. Doctors sometimes prescribe urea cream to remove diseased or damaged nails without surgery.

Brand names for urea cream include Carmol 20, Decubal and Aqua Care. This topical medication is suitable for external use only and should not be applied to severely irritated or broken skin. Side effects include temporary itching, stinging or burning and mild skin irritation. Severe allergic reactions and interactions with other drugs are rare because little of the active ingredient is absorbed into the blood stream.