[Results and consequences of long-term urea therapy for clinical practice]

In the development of clinical symptoms of atopic constitutional neurodermatitis, the application of urea can 1. regulate corneal layer lipids by hydrating the corneal layer and influencing transepidermal water loss, 2. reduce itching via inhibition of tryptic enzymes in the skin and, 3. diminish the susceptibility of the skin to infection by directly acting on the cell membranes of bacteria and fungi. In the present study, the combination of urea and hydrocortisone was used for acute attacks and urea ointment for chronic therapy. The study comprised 1905 patients ranging from small children to adults and was conducted by dermatologists as well as pediatricians. Medical monitors supervised the course of the study. Statistical assessment of the results obtained consolidated previous knowledge and led to new results and epidemiological insights which will be presented at the Neurodermatitis Symposium. Urea therapy in the form of a hydrocortisone-urea ointment represents an effective and low-side effect therapy of this type of chronic dermatosis. 84% of the patients showed very good to good results. Local therapy with other corticosteroids was only reported as necessary in 16% of the cases. The antiinflammatory value of hydrocortisone and its high tolerability became particularly evident. In addition to its special properties in the therapy of neurodermatitis, urea also ranks high as a physiological substitution.