This study used two readily available,
over-the-counter cosmetic products:
aqueous cream BP and Scholl Cracked
Heel Repair Cream K+. Aqueous cream
BP was selected as the control product
as it is commonly recommended by
podiatrists as a suitable moisturiser for
dry skin. It is an emulsifying ointment
30% w/w (ingredients include:
cetostearyl alcohol, sodium lauryl
sulphate, liquid paraffin and white soft
paraffin, phenoxyethanol 1% w/w and
purified water to 100%). The Cracked
Heel Repair Cream K+ was the test
product with the active ingredient of
25% urea.
Participants were asked to apply
one cream to the heel of the right foot
and the alternate cream to the heel of
the left foot twice-daily for two weeks.
They were asked to apply a pea-sized
amount of each product and to use
one hand to apply one cream and the
other hand to apply the other cream,
washing hands thoroughly between
each application. The use of any other