What Causes Sore Finger?

My wife has her pointing finger very sore! The skin is cracked open on the side of her finger and she tried salves,lotions and nothing seems to heal it! She is a LPN at a nursing home where alchol is used on her hands for santatizing. She thinks this may be what is making her skin sore and breaking open the skin on the side of her finger? What could she get to heal this up ? Thank you!