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Why Your Hands Age Faster Than the Rest of Your Body

The pharmaceutical-grade solution 10,000+ people swear by — that most dermatologists won't tell you about

As heard on NPR · Featured on Oprah · Featured on Today Show · Featured on GMA

Linda from Belmont, North Carolina had given up on hand creams.

After years of trying every drugstore bottle that promised "24-hour moisture" and "intensive repair," her husband's dry, itchy back was worse than ever. Nothing worked. The creams felt nice for an hour, then the dryness returned — sometimes worse than before.

She'd almost accepted it as an unsolvable problem. Then she tried something different.

"My husband has tried many different creams for his dry itchy back over the years, but none have ever worked. However, I ordered some of your specially formulated Urea cream and Voila! It worked beautifully! He has been using it now for more than a year and has had splendid results with great relief!"

— Linda, Belmont, NC · Verified Buyer

Linda's experience isn't unusual. Over 40% of adults struggle with chronic skin dryness, and your hands — which have 50% fewer oil glands than the rest of your body — take the hardest hit.

But here's what most people don't realize: the hand cream you're using might actually be making things worse.

Close-up of dry, cracked hands with rough skin texture
Dry, cracked hands are a sign of a compromised skin barrier — not just a cosmetic issue.

The Dirty Truth About "Moisturizing" Hand Creams

Walk down the skincare aisle of any drugstore, and you'll find dozens of creams promising repair and relief. The bottles are pretty. The fragrances are appealing. The marketing is convincing.

But flip one over and read the ingredient list. Here's what you'll likely find:

Parabens Hormone disruptors linked to reproductive issues
Phthalates Often hidden as "fragrance" — linked to developmental problems
Synthetic Fragrances Can contain up to 200 undisclosed chemicals
Mineral Oil Derivatives Petroleum byproducts that sit on skin, never penetrate
Formaldehyde Preservatives The same chemical family used in industrial embalming

Research has documented that many of these ingredients can be absorbed through the skin and detected in blood and urine samples. Your skin isn't an impenetrable barrier — and what you apply topically matters more than most people realize.

So while these creams might make your hands feel soft temporarily, they're coating your skin with a synthetic film rather than actually repairing the damage.

Rough, flaking skin on hands due to a damaged moisture barrier

Why Your Skin Can't Hold Moisture

Most people assume dry skin is simply about cold weather or washing your hands too often. But the real culprit runs deeper.

Your skin produces a natural moisturizing factor (NMF) — a complex mixture of amino acids, lactic acid, urea, and other compounds that keep your skin's outer layer hydrated and intact. As you age, your NMF production naturally declines. Add environmental stressors — dry indoor air, harsh soaps, cold weather, UV exposure — and your skin barrier starts to break down.

Standard moisturizers don't fix this. They're like putting a tarp over a crumbling wall — it might slow the damage, but it doesn't repair the structure.

40%+ of adults experience chronic skin dryness
50% fewer oil glands in your hands vs. rest of body
10–20% indoor humidity in winter — desert-level dryness

Discover the clean, pharmaceutical-grade formula →

The Ingredient Dermatologists Have Prescribed for Decades

If you've ever visited a dermatologist for severe dry skin or eczema, they probably prescribed a cream with one key ingredient: urea.

Urea is one of nature's most elegant solutions. It's a component your skin naturally produces as part of its NMF, which means your body recognizes it instantly and knows exactly how to use it.

Here's what makes pharmaceutical-grade urea so remarkable:

Biomimetic Humectant

Unlike synthetic moisturizers, urea binds with water molecules and pulls moisture deep into your skin cells. It doesn't just hydrate — it teaches your skin to retain moisture on its own.

Gentle Exfoliant

Breaks down bonds between dead skin cells so they shed naturally. Rough patches smooth out without scrubbing or chemical peels.

Barrier Repair

At therapeutic concentrations (15–20%), urea rebuilds your skin's protective barrier by supporting ceramide production and improving cell turnover.

Deep Penetration

A small molecule your skin recognizes — it penetrates all layers of the epidermis, delivering moisture where conventional creams can't reach.

But here's the catch: most over-the-counter "urea creams" contain only 2–5% urea. You need pharmaceutical-grade concentrations of 15–20% to trigger real therapeutic effects.

2022 Clinical Study · Journal of Dermatological Treatment

73% reduction in skin roughness
64% improvement in barrier function

Results after just two weeks of use with 20% urea cream

The People's Pharmacy Solution

The Formula That Changes Everything

Even when you find a high-concentration urea product, there's another problem: most pharmaceutical companies load it with the same toxic preservatives and synthetic fragrances found in conventional creams.

That's why Joe and Terry Graedon created Urea Skin Relief with two non-negotiables:

  1. Pharmaceutical-grade potency — full 20% urea concentration
  2. Absolutely zero toxins — no parabens, phthalates, fragrances, or fillers

The result? Prescription-level effectiveness with an ingredient list so clean your dermatologist would approve.

Try It Risk-Free →

Trusted by America for Over 50 Years

Joe Graedon, MS (Pharmacology), and Terry Graedon, PhD (Medical Anthropology), are the husband-and-wife team behind The People's Pharmacy. For over five decades, they've translated complex medical research into practical solutions — authoring best-selling books, hosting an award-winning radio show, and appearing on Oprah, the Today Show, Good Morning America, and NPR.

Urea Skin Relief cream compared to other products

When they decided to create their own urea cream, they weren't trying to build a brand. They were solving a problem they'd heard about from thousands of listeners and readers for decades.

What's Inside — And What's Not

Clean ingredients that deliver

20% Pharmaceutical-Grade Urea

Clinically proven to repair barriers, hydrate deeply, and smooth rough patches.

Pure Allantoin

Soothes irritation and promotes skin healing — calming even on cracked skin.

Organic Sunflower Seed Oil

Rich in linoleic acid and vitamin E — nourishes without clogging pores.

Vitamin E + Glycerin

Antioxidant protection and deep hydration working in synergy with urea.

What you won't find

  • No parabens
  • No phthalates
  • No synthetic fragrances
  • No mineral oil
  • No petroleum derivatives
  • No formaldehyde preservatives
  • No dyes or colorants

Unscented, hypoallergenic, and gentle enough for eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis.

People's Pharmacy Urea Skin Relief 6 oz cream
Urea Skin Relief — 20% pharmaceutical-grade urea, zero toxins

Real Results from Real People

"It is wonderful, goes on smooth, creamy, not greasy."

Toby

"This hand cream just completely changed my life!"

Tara

"At first I was surprised because it doesn't make your skin feel immediately soft. But it works with repeated use! Most lotions feel great when you apply but as soon as you wash your hands it's gone. Honestly I just ordered my second tube because now my hands feel soft all day."

— Verified Buyer · Texas

"Love this product. Leaves my skin soft. I used it on my husband's very dry itchy back and he asked me to put it on him everyday! Must be working!"

— Verified Buyer · Colorado

"Purchased Urea Skin Relief product…with some misgivings. Some products advertise one thing but sometimes do not deliver. I have particularly dry, flaky skin particularly on legs as a result of an autoimmune disease. This product ACTUALLY WORKED to soften and ease what I'd call tightness and the flakiness. Will reorder once I've finished this tube."

— Sheila W. · Verified Buyer

"Socks cause the area above my ankles to itch when the weather turns cold. No matter how often I put moisturizer on that area the itch feeling was always there. That is, until I started rubbing Urea Skin Relief on the area after showering. It took a few days to work and now I am practically itch free. Also, my partner had a huge callous on the heel of his foot that was causing great discomfort. I gave him a bottle and after a couple of weeks of application, the callous has started to soften to the point where he no longer has any pain. I am so glad I found out about this product. I love it and now apply it to my legs, arms, and hands. BTW, I showed it to my dermatologist this week and she said it was a good product."

— Jim · Verified Buyer
Urea Skin Relief 6 oz
Urea Skin Relief 20% Pharmaceutical-Grade Urea · 6 oz $20.60 Free shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee Try It Risk-Free →

How to Use It

AM

After washing, pat hands dry and apply a nickel-sized amount while skin is still slightly damp. Focus on knuckles, cuticles, and rough patches.

PM

Apply a generous amount before bed. For severe dryness, wear cotton gloves overnight — wake up to noticeably softer hands.

+

Keep a tube at your desk, in your car, by the kitchen sink. Reapply after each hand washing to maintain your moisture barrier.

Most people see dramatic improvement within 5–7 days:

Days 1–3 Immediate relief — tightness and discomfort fade as your barrier gets reinforced
Days 4–7 Rough texture smooths as gentle exfoliation and deep hydration kick in
Days 8–14 Visible transformation — cracks heal, skin regains its natural resilience
Ongoing Maintained softness with minimal effort — your skin retains moisture on its own
Urea Skin Relief cream tube
Smooth, soft, healthy hands after skin barrier repair
What properly hydrated, healthy hands look like after your skin barrier is restored.

Stop the Cycle. Start Repairing.

Every week of using inadequate moisturizers compounds the damage — leaving your hands looking progressively older and more weathered. The good news? You can stop this cycle today.

Pharmaceutical-grade urea doesn't just mask symptoms — it repairs your skin at the cellular level. No prescription needed. No co-pay. Just one simple swap.

Healthy, radiant hands with smooth, supple skin
Urea Skin Relief 6 oz
Urea Skin Relief 20% Pharmaceutical-Grade Urea · 6 oz $20.60 Free shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee Try It Risk-Free →

What Our Readers Asked

Is it safe for sensitive skin or eczema?

Yes. The fragrance-free, paraben-free formula is specifically designed for sensitive skin. Many customers with eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis use it successfully. A mild tingling on very dry or cracked skin is normal and fades quickly as your skin heals.

Why does it cost more than drugstore hand creams?

You're paying for pharmaceutical-grade ingredients and clean formulation. Most drugstore creams contain 2–5% urea (if any) plus cheap fillers and synthetic fragrances. Urea Skin Relief contains 20% pharmaceutical-grade urea with zero toxins. When you calculate cost per actual result, it's far more economical — and one tube lasts 3–4 months.

Will it feel greasy?

No. Despite being deeply hydrating, the formula absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy film. It works by pulling moisture into your skin cells rather than coating the surface — so it feels clean, not slick.

Can I use it on other parts of my body?

Absolutely. While it's popular as a hand cream, many customers use it on dry elbows, knees, legs, arms, and feet. The gentle, fragrance-free formula is safe for use anywhere on your body.

How long will one tube last?

When used twice daily on hands, one 6 oz tube typically lasts 3–4 months. Using it on larger areas like feet or elbows will reduce that proportionally.