urea + 5-fluorouracil

**Urea + 5-fluorouracil** is a topical combination drug formulation, primarily used for the treatment of actinic keratosis and resistant or difficult-to-treat hyperkeratotic skin lesions. 5-fluorouracil is a pyrimidine antimetabolite that inhibits thymidylate synthase, thereby blocking DNA synthesis and leading to apoptosis in aberrant keratinocytes[1]. Urea acts as a keratolytic agent, enhancing the penetration of 5-fluorouracil into thickened, hyperkeratotic lesions and softening the stratum corneum. The combination is predominantly indicated in dermatology, especially in cases where monotherapy with 5-fluorouracil is less effective due to the physical barrier of hyperkeratosis. It is not systemically absorbed in significant amounts when used as a topical formulation.

Brand names

Efudix

Other names

urea + 5-fluorouracilurea/5-fluorouracil cream