lauromacrogols + urea (Almirall)

Balneum Plus cream is a topical over-the-counter combination cream developed by Almirall containing 3% lauromacrogols (polidocanol) and 5% urea. It is primarily used to treat dry, itchy skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. Lauromacrogols act as a local anesthetic and antipruritic agent by inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels (such as Nav1.7 and Nav1.3) to relieve itching, while urea acts as a humectant and keratolytic agent to hydrate the stratum corneum and restore the skin's natural barrier. The formulation was also investigated in a Phase 4 clinical trial (the 'DON'T ITCH' trial) sponsored by Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust for the treatment of chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (uraemic pruritus) in adult haemodialysis patients, though it did not show a significant difference in itch scores compared to the emollient control.

Brand names

Balneum PlusBalneum Plus creamOptidermE45 Itch Relief CreamE-45 Itch Relief CreamE 45 Itch Relief CreamPruri-med

Other names

polidocanol + urealauromacrogols + ureaurea + lauromacrogolsurea + polidocanol