What is an alternative to ammonia lactic lotion?

Alternatives to Ammonium Lactate Lotion

Urea-containing products (10% urea cream or lotion) are the best alternative to ammonium lactate lotion for skin hydration and keratolysis. 1

Primary Alternatives

Urea-Based Products

• 10% urea cream or lotion is highly effective for treating dry skin conditions and provides equivalent or superior hydration compared to ammonium lactate 2
• Urea 10% cream has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of skin reactions and improve water barrier function 1, 3
• Available as various formulations including:
  • Eucerin® intensive lotion (10% urea) 1
  • Balneum Plus® (5% urea, lauromacrigols 3%) 1

Salicylic Acid Products

• 5-6% salicylic acid preparations are effective alternatives, particularly when keratolytic effects are desired 2, 4
• Salicylic acid 6% in an emollient foam formulation has shown significant efficacy in treating scaly skin conditions 4
• Can be found in combination with urea (e.g., 5% salicylic acid and 10% urea ointment) for enhanced effect 2

Other Emollient Options

Basic Emollients

• Various emollient lotions and creams can be used as alternatives 1:
  • E45 Lotion® 1
  • Dermol® 500 lotion (contains benzalkonium chloride 0.1% and chlorhexidine 0.1%) 1
  • Aveeno® lotion 1
  • Vaseline Dermacare® 1

Cream and Gel Formulations

• Diprobase® cream 1
• Hydromol® cream 1
• Doublebase® gel 1
• Epaderm® cream 1

Clinical Considerations

Efficacy Comparison

• In a randomized double-blind study comparing 5% salicylic acid/10% urea ointment with 12% ammonium lactate lotion for foot xerosis, both treatments showed significant improvement with no statistically significant difference between them 2
• 40% urea cream has demonstrated superior efficacy compared to 12% ammonium lactate lotion in treating xerosis, with faster improvement in skin roughness, fissure reduction, and dryness 5

Special Populations

• For patients with inflammatory skin conditions, consider combination products containing mild corticosteroids:
  • Calmurid HC® (hydrocortisone 1% + urea 10% + lactic acid 5%) 1
  • Fucidin H® (hydrocortisone 1% + fusidic acid 2%) 1

Application Guidelines

• Apply emollients liberally and frequently (at least twice daily) 1
• Usage at twice daily dosing is estimated at 200-400g (or mL for lotions) per week 1
• For best results, apply after bathing when skin is still slightly damp 1

Practical Tips

• Avoid alcohol-containing lotions or gels in patients with dry or sensitive skin 1
• Oil-in-water creams are generally better tolerated than water-in-oil formulations for daily use 1
• For areas prone to friction or irritation, petroleum-based ointments may provide better protection 1
• When treating xerosis in intertriginous areas, lighter formulations are preferred to avoid maceration 1

Cautions

• Some patients may experience irritation with higher concentrations of urea or salicylic acid 5, 3
• Salicylic acid products should be used cautiously in patients with diabetes or peripheral vascular disease due to potential for delayed wound healing 4
• Avoid applying keratolytic agents to broken or inflamed skin 1