Infrequently, I take into consideration writing a letter to all the web. It could get started one thing like: “Expensive readers, are we kidding?” Do not get me incorrect, I like a hair hack and an out-of-the-box skin-care tip simply up to the following particular person, however the issues I have been seeing on-line in recent years were throwing me for a loop. Just lately, Jonathan Otto, an investigative journalist, filmmaker, and, obviously, DIY skin-care fanatic, went at the “Virtual Social Hour” podcast and advised host Sean Kelly that he makes use of urine as a moisturizer.
“Urine is the #1 antiaging useful resource, so far as I am involved, by way of a long way,” Otto mentioned. “Urea is the one clinically confirmed pores and skin moisturizer on the earth.” He went on to mention that he rubs urine without delay onto his face on a daily basis, and that now not most effective does his face now not odor in a while, however the liquid in reality absorbs briefly.
I would possibly not lie — Otto’s pores and skin does glance beautiful excellent. However except he is secretly a long time older than I believe he’s, his pores and skin does not glance that significantly better than mine, and my face hasn’t ever touched urine.
Otto is indexed as an investigative journalist, filmmaker, and humanitarian on his site, but it surely does not look like he has any related enjoy within the clinical or beauty chemistry fields. So, to determine whether or not or now not his claims are in reality true, I tapped a skin-care professional.
Stay studying to be informed extra.
Can You Use Urine as Moisturizer?
So, is it true? Are you able to in reality use urine as a moisturizer? “Whilst some other folks would possibly to find that handy and others disgusting, like a lot knowledge purveyed on social media, it’s unsuitable, but it does include a kernel of fact,” Peter Lee, MD, the CEO of Wave Plastic Surgical procedure, tells POPSUGAR.
This is the deal: “Urea is a chemical byproduct of the breakdown of proteins within the liver, from which it’s carried by way of the bloodstream to the kidneys, the place it’s filtered into the urine,” Dr. Lee says. On the other hand, Dr. Lee notes that the focus of urea in human urine is simply too low to have any scientific affect at the well being of the outside.
“Urea in upper concentrations generally is a very efficient moisturizing agent and is regularly provide in lots of frame cleansers and moisturizing brokers,” he provides. It’s because urea can act as each a humectant (an agent that is helping the outside draw in and retain moisture) and an emollient (a chemical that softens pores and skin).
“In even upper concentrations, urea can act as a keratolytic agent, [which means] it may possibly take away the lifeless pores and skin cells that gather at the pores and skin floor over the years,” Dr. Lee says.
Whilst Dr. Lee recommends the usage of artificial urea as a skin-care element, he suggests staying clear of human urine. “Micro organism found in urine would possibly purpose an infection of the outside with power utility, particularly within the face of irritation or a destroy within the pores and skin floor.”
Whew — I am not gonna lie, I used to be a bit anxious I used to be gonna have to begin rubbing my very own pee on my face within the morning. I am certain we will all breathe a collective sigh of reduction that that is not the case. For now, your run-of-the-mill moisturizers will do the trick.