Marti

The true cuticle is the transparent skin that grows forward with the nail plate; although I will say that the majority of people refer to the eponychium as the cuticle, so I won't 'correct' you

Your skin is severly dry! whenever the skin cracks and bleeds, it is lacking the proper porprtions of natural oils and moisture. This is normally supplied by the underlying tissues, so the less oils and moisture secreted by your skin, the worse the splitting, peeling, bleeding and redness.

Do you have your hands inwater a lot? Is the weather where you live real dry (cold) right now? Do you use any type of solvents, including household cleaning solutions, without wearing gloves? All of these factors contribute to your condition, but a single one may also be the culprit.

Get some Botanical Oil from your local Sally Beauty Supply, or any other type of nail and cuticle oil that contains jojoba oil. Apply liberally to the nails and massage into the skin and nails at LEAST twice daily. Alow the oil to be absorbed into the skin, then apply a light coating of vaseline to each finger. The vaseline will act as a barrier to the weather, water, etc., but I would also suggest wearing gloves whenever you have to have your hands wet for any reason other than bathing and simple handwashing.

You could also apply a cortisone cream/ointment to the effected area after you allow the oil to absorb into the skin.

My husbands fingers look like this every winter, but he is much too 'macho' to apply "all that stuff" to his fingers. I just tell him that if he treats them, they won't do that and that I will not listen to him complain)))