Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Grether-Beck S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3352965 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
The Journal of investigative dermatology 20120315 6
Urea is an endogenous metabolite, known to enhance stratum corneum hydration. Yet, topical urea anecdotally also improves permeability barrier function, and it appears to exhibit antimicrobial activity. Hence, we hypothesized that urea is not merely a passive metabolite, but a small-molecule regulator of epidermal structure and function. In 21 human volunteers, topical urea improved barrier function in parallel with enhanced antimicrobial peptide (AMP; LL-37 and β-defensin-2) expression. Urea st ...[more]