I'm another one that has to use the Eucerin cream (recommended by my dermatologist). I have one for my hands (5% urea), one for my legs for the winter itchies, and one for my cracking feet (10% urea). I also have a specially mixed preparation with urea/cortisone for my back and upper arms as I have Keratosis Pilaris, which looks like a rash or acne, but isn't.
The urea in the Eucerin and other preparations causes the moisture to become locked into the skin, keeping it from drying out, and also is an exfoliant, causing the dead skin to shed and not build up. It's been a godsend for me, as my heels would be painful all year, and my hands would bleed from the dryness of winter...all winter. Nothing else I've tried over the years worked like this.