Uric Acid & Skin Treatments

Uric acid, or urate, is a chemical produced by the body. It is a waste product not to be confused with urea, which has a different chemical structure and is one of the key chemicals that make up urine. Manufacturers use commercially synthesized urea in hand creams and lotions; it can be a treatment for dry skin.

Uric Acid

• Your body creates uric acid during the breakdown of purines found in foods like dried beans, liver, mackerel and peas. Generally, uric acid dissolves in blood and is transported to the kidneys and then excreted in urine. In some cases, uric acid may build up in the body if your system does not remove it sufficiently, or if the body creates too much of it. This can lead to a variety of health problems including gout and kidney stones.

Skin Treatments

• Urea exists in the skin's epidermis, or outermost layer. It is involved, together with lactic acid, in keeping the skin moisturized. The moisturizing effects of urea are achieved by its ability to attract water molecules that it then holds on to. Hand lotions and creams that aim to moisturize dry skin often have urea as a key ingredient.

Skin Conditions

• Uric acid is not used for skin treatments. In fact, in people with gout, uric acid crystals settle in the joints and in soft tissue beneath the skin. These deposits, also known as tophi, may appear on the skin that covers the rim of the ear and under the skin that covers joints.