Urea in Skincare: Hydrator or Exfoliant? Dermatologist Explains

In this video, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dray breaks down the science of urea in skincare, including how concentration determines whether it functions primarily as a hydrator or a keratolytic exfoliant. She also compares urea to Glycolic acid, Lactic acid, and Salicylic acid to clarify key differences in mechanism, benefits, and photosensitivity. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:43 What Is Urea? 2:40 Urea as a Hydrator 2 to 10 percent 4:44 Urea as a Keratolytic 10 to 40 percent 6:14 How Does This Compare to AHAs? 9:08 What About Salicylic Acid? 10:23 Important Nuance: There Is Overlap 11:59 Photosensitivity Differences 12:25 Safety and Overuse 13:19 Final Verdict This video is ideal for anyone interested in: Urea cream benefits Urea for keratosis pilaris Urea vs glycolic acid Urea vs salicylic acid Best exfoliants for dry skin How to treat rough texture and thickened skin Dermatologist skincare advice Dr. Dray emphasizes evidence based skincare education to help viewers make informed decisions and avoid common ingredient misconceptions. FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links. 💜Shop my Amazon store https://o.bttn.io/0BwiPWFIZLG 💜Follow me on liketoknowit https://www.liketoknow.it/drdrayzday 💜Social media Instagram @drdrayzday Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/drdrayzday/ Facebook @DrDrayzDay Twitter: @drdrayzday Tiktok: @drdrayzday Disclaimer: This video is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. Content provided on this Youtube channel is for informational purposes only. Please consult with a physician or other healthcare professional regarding any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment options. Information on this Youtube channel should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. The statements made about specific products throughout this video are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.