YOU MAY HAVE some pinched nerve,OR CAN BE CARPALTUNEL,GO AND SEE THE DOCTOR,NOW
I too have developed a similar condition over the past year, which has over the last few months seems to have got worse. Initially I had flaking skin on just the thumb, 2nd and middle fingers on both hands. Whilst the condition has predominately remained on the thumbs and 2 fingers of each hand I do get slight changes to my remaining fingers from time to time. In recent months the condition has got noticeably worse with the fingers tending to cycle with the skin appearing to become redder in colour, followed by numbness in the affected fingers and thumbs. Then I start to get splitting on the finger tips, making it very difficult to do basic chores such as writing with a pen or doing buttons up etc. Then the skins just dies and starts to flake off, but again still remaining very sensitive before eventually improving and then the whole cycle starts again. This latest cycle has been the worst to date, being very painful and the splits taking a long time to heal, making it very painful to do carryout basic tasks and have had to use my small fingers for typing on keyboards. I'll tend to have at least 1 or 2 elasterplasts on each hand, each day, simply because the skin is too tender and the dry peeling skin now appears to be spreading down my affected fingers making them look dreadful. To date I've been perscribed two different Steroid creams neither of which have worked and regularly moisturise the hands throughout the day with Dermol cream, which at least makes the fingers look normal for a period of time until they dry out again. I've also had allergy testing which again didn't show up any issues. I'm returning to the Dermatolagist in a couple of weeks where I believe they want to try UV treatment on my hands nextbut I'm not hopeful of a cure after reading through the comments on this and other websites. Its certainly blighted my life since it started and for someone who likes to do a lot of practical DIY work etc has meant that it has had a major impact on my life - can only hope it will cure itself and go !!
I started getting the same thing (dry cracking skin on my thumb and index finder) a few years ago ( I am 54). It starts out as a tingling sensation in my fingertips before the skin starts to crack. My Dermatologist called it contact eczema and gave me a steroid ointment to use, which seems to help. I just wish I new what caused it as it is periodic.
Mine was a two pronged attack, well worth the try. The acupuncturist I visit for the infrared sauna said my immune system is overtaxed thus the skin disorders such as the psoriasis I had briefly last year that I had never had before. That cropped up after back surgery and being on a lot of meds for a four days stay in the hospital and then pain meds for a three months.
I'm a big believer in the infrared sauna. You can build a small one easily at home. Professional grade ones bought offline run from 2-5 grand. You can put one together for less than two hundred. The lights can be bought at any big box hardware store.