Can Urine Really Clear Acne?

Urine therapy, or urotherapy, refers to the use of urine in alternative medicine. You may have heard that urine is good for your skin and can even clear acne, but evidence supporting this is lacking.

Urine contains urea, a substance produced in the liver. A synthetic (lab-made) version of urea is one of the most common moisturizing and exfoliating ingredients used in skincare products. However, synthetic urea is made in a controlled environment and may interact with the skin differently compared to whole urine applied to the skin.

This article answers the question of whether urine can clear acne. It also explains where the idea of urine therapy came from, along with what urine is made of, and treatments to try instead.

Urine Won't Clear Acne

Urine therapy dates all the way back to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. In parts of Asia, the Middle East, and South America, urine is applied as a treatment for numerous skin disorders, and is even thought to cure many systematic diseases.

Even today, some alternative healers espouse the curative properties of pee and use urine therapy as a treatment for a variety of skin and health problems, including athlete's foot and to brighten the skin.

Despite its traditional uses, you would be hard-pressed to find scientific evidence in support of urine therapy. In short, that's because there is none. Human urine has never have never been tested on humans as a treatment for acne or any other skin disorder.

As for urine being acidic and drying up pimples, that's not accurate either. If that were the case, vinegar would be a better acne treatment (it's not) because it's much more acidic than urine. Urine is a very weak acid. Nothing about it could dry up a pimple.

What Pee Is Made Of

About 95% of urine is water. The next largest constituent in urine is urea at about 2%, followed by the organic compound creatine, and such minerals as sodium, potassium, and phosphate.

Urea gets a lot of attention in the world of dermatology. It is:

• Emollient: Urea softens and soothes the skin.
• Moisturizing: At high concentrations, urea has been proven to increase skin hydration.
• Keratolytic: Urea loosens skin cells to assist with exfoliation and help moisture bind to the skin.
• Skin barrier enhancing: Urea improves skin barrier function, protecting the skin from irritants and microbes, and preventing excessive water loss.
• Antipruritic: Properties in urea relieve itching.
• Non-comedogenic: Urea does not clog pores.
  

There is a major catch, however. The synthetic urea used in studies and skincare products is formulated in concentrations of 10% to 30% or more. To be effective, you need much more urea than is naturally found in urine. So, an actual skin care product is still the best way to get it.

Urine Is a Waste Product

The most important thing to remember is that urine is a bodily waste. Putting pee on your face is neither safe nor hygienic, and may make your acne worse.

Contrary to popular belief, your urine is not sterile. There are low levels of bacteria even in a healthy person's pee.

This doesn't mean it's toxic. But it does mean that exposing your skin to urine can lead to infection, especially if your skin barrier is already compromised.

What to Do Instead

Luckily, there are other acne treatment options that work, including:

• Over-the-counter treatments
• Prescription topical medications
• Oral acne medications

Just remember to give any medication plenty of time to work (about three to four months). And if you have questions or need help, ask your healthcare provider.

Summary

Urine contains about 95% water, 2% urea, and trace amounts of minerals. Synthetic urea is used in skincare products due to its proven moisturizing, exfoliating, and antimicrobial properties. Human urine does not contain high enough concentrations of urea to be effective. Plus, human urine contains bacteria that can multiply on your skin, causing infection and making your acne worse. If you are interested in using urine on your skin, opt for a skincare product that contains urea instead.