Uremic frost is a colloquial description for crystallized urea deposits that can be found on the skin of those affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD) and uremia. [1] It was first described in 1865 by Harald Hirschsprung (1830-1916), a Danish pediatrician. [2]
The condition arises when high blood urea levels lead to high secretion of urea by sweat glands as a component of sweat. As water evaporates off the skin, it results in crystallization of the remaining urea which appear as white salts over the skin. [3] This condition is more common in severe, untreated uremia and is associated with serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels above 200[ clarification needed ]. It is becoming rare in people with chronic kidney disease managed on long-term hemodialysis, with estimated prevalence between 0.8 and 3%. [4] [5] [6]
