Hydrophil Lotion: Uses, Price in Pakistan, and 5% vs 10% vs Daily

Hydrophil is the lotion Pakistani dermatologists and pharmacists hand you for dry skin, mostly because it works and costs a few hundred rupees. What most people don't realise is that "Hydrophil" is three different lotions. Two of them contain urea, a moisturising ingredient that also softens rough skin, and one does not.

Here's what each one is for, what they cost and how to use them. For a wider choice of body lotions, see our best body lotion in Pakistan guide.

What is Hydrophil lotion?

Hydrophil is made by Atco Laboratories, a Pakistani pharmaceutical company. There are three versions:

• Hydrophil 5% (120ml). Urea 5%. For everyday dry skin (khushk jild).
• Hydrophil 10% (180ml). Urea 10%. For very rough, thick or scaly skin.
• Hydrophil Daily (200ml). No urea. A light body lotion with glycerin, paraffin, apricot kernel oil, olive oil, aloe vera and beeswax.

What does urea do for skin?

Urea is one of the substances skin already uses to hold on to water. In a lotion it does two jobs:

• At around 5%, it mainly pulls water into the top layer of skin and keeps it there, so dry skin feels soft for longer than with a plain cream.
• At 10% and above, it also loosens the bonds between dead skin cells, so thick, hard and flaky skin smooths out. That is why stronger urea creams are used on heels and calluses.

Which Hydrophil should you buy?

• Dry legs, arms and hands in winter: Hydrophil 5%.
• Cracked heels, rough elbows and knees, thick scaly patches: Hydrophil 10%, once a day on those areas only.
• Normal skin, or skin that stings with urea: Hydrophil Daily.
• Your face: none of them is ideal. Use a face moisturiser; our best moisturizer in Pakistan guide has options for dry and oily skin.

Hydrophil lotion price in Pakistan

Hydrophil 5% works out to about Rs 3 per ml, which is far cheaper than imported urea lotions such as Eucerin. Pharmacy prices move often and the 10% sells out regularly, so check two shops before ordering.

How to use Hydrophil lotion

1. Apply after a bath, while your skin is still slightly damp. This traps the most water.
2. Use a thin layer on dry areas, once or twice a day.
3. For cracked heels, use Hydrophil 10% at night and wear cotton socks over it.
4. Avoid broken skin, the eyes, lips and the inside of the nose; urea stings on cuts.
5. Give it a week. Rough patches soften within days; deep cracks take two to three weeks.

Side effects

Urea is gentle for most people, but it can sting or burn on very dry, cracked or inflamed skin, especially the 10%. If it stings, switch to the 5% or the Daily version until the skin heals. Stop and see a doctor if you get a rash, swelling, or if the skin cracks and bleeds.

Hydrophil vs other dry-skin lotions

• Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion: gentle and fragrance-free, but several times the price per ml in Pakistan.
• Glycerin and rose water: the cheapest home option, good for hands and feet; see our glycerin for skin guide.
• Nivea and Vaseline body lotions: fine for normal skin, but they don't soften rough patches the way urea does.

For a full winter routine for dry skin, see the best moisturisers for dry skin in Pakistani winters.

How we wrote this guide

We checked Hydrophil prices and pack sizes on Healthwire and Derma.pk on 9 November 2026, and the ingredients and uses on the pharmacy listings and the product labels they quote. Search interest comes from Semrush data for Pakistan (November 2026). We don't take payment from Atco or any brand mentioned here.