Urea 20% Cream Moisturizer 3 oz. EACH This medication is used as a moisturizer to treat or prevent dry rough scaly itchy skin and minor skin irritations (such as diaper rash skin burns from radiation therapy). Emollients are substances that soften and moisturize the skin and decrease itching and flaking. Some products (such as zinc oxide white petrolatum) are used mostly to protect the skin against irritation (such as from wetness). Dry skin is caused by a loss of water in the upper layer of the skin.