Shiseido Urea 10% Cream 100g

Shiseido Urea 10% Cream 100g is a medicated 10% Urea cream for severely dry, rough, thickened, and cracked skin on face and body. At pharmaceutical-grade 10% concentration, Urea acts as both a keratolytic that dissolves hardened skin cells and a humectant that draws water into the stratum corneum — making it effective for the type of extreme dryness that standard moisturisers cannot penetrate because the outer skin layer is already too thickened to allow absorption.

• 10% Urea — softens hardened keratin and draws moisture deep into the stratum corneum simultaneously
• Vitamin E (Tocopherol Acetate) — promotes circulation and accelerates skin barrier repair
• Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate — licorice-derived anti-inflammatory that calms inflammation from severely dry skin
• Suitable for face, elbows, heels, knees, and any area of extreme localised dryness
• 100g — generous format for use across multiple body areas

How it works: Very dry skin develops thickened stratum corneum cells that create a physical barrier preventing moisture from entering. Urea at 10% breaks this cycle by dissolving the protein bonds in the hardened layer while simultaneously attracting water — the keratolytic and humectant actions occurring together. Lower concentrations (2–5%) only hydrate; 10% achieves both, making it appropriate for severe or recalcitrant dryness that resists standard moisturisers.

10% Urea cream vs standard moisturisers for rough skin: Standard moisturisers add moisture to the skin surface — effective when the barrier is functioning. Urea at 10% first softens the thickened barrier to allow penetration, then hydrates. For skin with visible roughness, scaling, or thickening that does not improve with regular moisturisers, the keratolytic action of 10% Urea is the mechanistic difference.

Known in Japan as 資生堂 尿素10%クリーム 100g.