Without seeing it, this sound very much like the 'eczema' that my husband had on and off for years on his hands. It would go away for a little while and then come back stronger in the same area. Each bout lasting longer and becoming more severe. We went to several dermatologist and they all told him it was eczema, and tried to treat it with steroid creams, shots, etc. Until one day we decided, for various reasons to find a better way than simply subduing it. It turns out that my husband is allergic to dairy products including eggs, not lactose intolerant, along with nickel allergies, shellfish allergy, too many to name. Not long after he cut dairy out of his diet, along with processed sugars which is never ate much of to begin with, but we really watch now, his hands cleared up and have been eczema free for two years. For an extra skin(and allover health) boost, we juice vegetables. Cucumbers, celery, carrots, beets for sweetness and ginger. Sometimes we throw in a vegetable called the 'cho cho' which is highly effective in lowering blood pressure. Hypertension runs in his family. With 5 going on 6 kids, we live on a tight budget, but it makes such a difference in our health in out children's health to eat this way.