What Causes Skin On The Knuckles To Become Hard,dry And Itchy?

Age 33, male, sit at computer all day for work. On my left hand, one at a time, the skin on the backside of my knuckles (ring, middle, now pinky) have become hard, dry, itchy, and enlarged. After about 10 days the thik skin begins to peel and I rip it away. It remains dry and cracked for another week while healing.



Possibly related: I was wearing a tungsten ring that probably had nickel in it; I was alergic to that ring (I'm guessing the nickel). It effected the front of my ring finger and a little on my middle finger. I stopped wearing that ring a few weaks ago, about a week before my 3rd finger became 'infected'. The infection on the front of my fingers from the ring doesn't resemble to knuckle infection at all.