Q. I know it is spring, but my hands really took a beating this winter. They are still so dry they are painful. What do you recommend?
A. We are quite partial to Udderly Smooth Extra Care 20 Cream from Redex Industries. In the interests of transparency, we need to tell you that they underwrite our radio show. Nonetheless, we haven’t found a better moisturizer than this cream with 20 percent urea.
Why urea?
In addition to moisturizing, urea strengthens the barrier function of the skin (Journal of Investigative Dermatology, June, 2012). This natural product can soothe dry skin and make it feel much better. A recent study found that a cream with a much lower amount of urea (5%) prevented the return of eczema far better than a urea-free cream (Acta Dermato-Venereologica, online Jan. 16, 2015).
Udderly Smooth Extra Care 20 Cream is not greasy like the creams that dermatologists frequently recommend, such as plain petroleum jelly, Aquaphor or Eucerin. If you can’t find it at your local drugstore, you can buy it from us. The large size contains 8 ounces.
