Ingredient · dataset v56
Urea and fungal acne
No known trigger
Why it's not a known trigger
Malassezia is urease-positive, so it can split urea — but urea is a small water-soluble humectant, not a long-chain lipid, and nothing in the feeding studies shows Malassezia yeast living on it.
Used as a humectant and as a penetration-enhancer that helps topical antifungals work; label-level flare is unproven. Corrected in v4: previously flagged on nitrogen logic alone, a standard the dataset applies to nothing else.
Evidence strength
Judged neutral — no trigger evidence
Function
Humectant
Also listed as
Carbamide, Carbonyl Diamide
Related humectant
- 2,3-Butanediol — No known trigger
- Allantoin — No known trigger
- Alpha-Glucan — No known trigger
- Beta-Glucan — No known trigger
- Betaine — No known trigger
- Decylene Glycol — No known trigger
- Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone — No known trigger
- Diglycerin — No known trigger
Sources
EU CosIng database — search the INCI name
Last reviewed: 2026-10-13 (dataset v56).
Questions
Does Urea trigger fungal acne?
No known trigger: Malassezia is urease-positive, so it can split urea — but urea is a small water-soluble humectant, not a long-chain lipid, and nothing in the feeding studies shows the yeast living on it.
Does Urea feed Malassezia?
No known link: Urea is judged with no known trigger. One screened ingredient is not a product verdict — when in doubt, ask a dermatologist.
Is this medical advice?
No. We screen ingredient lists; we never diagnose, treat, or certify products. When in doubt, ask a dermatologist.
Check a full list containing Urea →
Not medical advice: we screen ingredient lists for potential triggers — we never diagnose, treat, or certify products. Dataset v56.