Studies on Stability and Moisture Retention of Urea and Its Derivatives

The effect of triethyl citrate(TEC)on the stability of cream preparations containing urea or hydroxyethyl urea along with their moisturizing effect on skin was investigated.The results showed that creams incorporating urea or hydroxyethyl urea led to increase in pH value after a long-term and high-temperature storage.pH change in the latter one was relatively smaller.With the addition of TEC,the elevated pH of the formula system was suppressed.In the situation of stable formula,the higher the TEC added,the more significant inhibition effect on the pH change was observed.In the moisture retention test in vivo,compared to 27.19%moisture rate in negative control,cream preparations containing 5%urea or 5%hydroxyethyl urea had remarkable moisturizing effect,which were all higher than 52%.The latter one was relatively more prominent.There is no significant effect on moisturizing effect for product with TEC additive.