[Effect of urea nail lacquer on nail quality. Clinical evaluation and biophysical measurements].

3 Small study in people

How much this weighs: research in people, but small or without a comparison group.

Type of study: controlled trial
Studied in: people
Participants: 30
Published: 2007 in Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete
Cited: 2 times by other research
Who paid: Not declared. PubMed carries no conflict-of-interest statement for most articles; that is not the same as independent.
Source: PubMed 17043834 · doi 10.1007/s00105-006-1215-7

The plain-language write-up of this study is still being written. Below is the abstract exactly as the researchers published it.

Abstract by the researchers — original text

BACKGROUND: Urea is a well-known humectant. The aim of our study was to evaluate the in vivo effect of 10% urea lacquer on nail quality. METHODS: 60 healthy probands with brittle nails were included in a randomized, controlled study. The nail lacquer was applied once (n=30) or twice daily (n=30) on one hand for 28 days, while the other hand served as untreated control. Assessments included clinical evaluations and bioengineering measurements. RESULTS: Application of the nail lacquer was well-tolerated and led to a significant clinical improvement of nail surface morphology, nail plate consistency, reflection of the nail plate surface, appearance of the cuticle and the nail fold. Sonographic nail density was slightly increased. No relevant changes were found in nail thickness and transonychial water loss. CONCLUSIONS: Nail lacquer containing urea improves the cosmetic appearance of fingernails.