Cosmetic acceptability of six 40-50% urea preparations: a single-blind, pilot study.

Overview

BACKGROUND: Urea 40-50% is widely used in the treatment of hyperkeratotic dermatoses. Compliance with topical therapy is directly related to the esthetic and sensory acceptability of a topical agent. OBJECTIVE: To assess the spreadability, odor, and post-application residue of 0.1 mL of six different urea 40-50% preparations administered in single-blind fashion to 12 trained female panelists. METHODS: Spreadability was assessed at time 0, and odor and residue were assessed at 30 minutes post-application. The scores for a novel emollient preparation were compared with the composite scores of five existing preparations. RESULTS: The novel emollient preparation was found to be the most spreadable and to leave the least residue. Odor scores were comparable and low overall. CONCLUSION: Urea 40-50% preparations may vary considerably in odor, spreadability, and post-application residue. The novel emollient preparation was the most cosmetically acceptable.