Carbamide peroxide

Carbamide peroxide release hydrogen peroxide upon contact with teeth, which is a strong oxidizing and bleaching agent. It also release free radicals such as H+ or H3O+. Hydrogen peroxide also acts as an antiseptic, especially in sites with relative anaerobiosis. Following otic administration, carbamide peroxide complex releases hydrogen peroxide that breaks up the hardened wax. The hydrogen peroxide component, which further breaks down into water, is also a cerumenolytic that hydrates the desquamated sheets of corneocytes, which are the major constituent of cerumen plugs. The glycerol and urea facilitates softening of the cerumen, either with or without syringing. Both hydrogen peroxide and urea mildly induce keratolysis with disintegration of the ear wax to help reduce the keratin-load in the ear debris and allow other active components to reach the skin under the debris.