Anyone have any cures or ideas on how to make the really deep skin cracks on my fingers better? Lotion doesn't seem to cut it and I'm not sure what else to try.

OUCH! You could try warming up some olive oil, and slathering your hands and put on some latex gloves. Try leaving them on overnight so it can penetrate, and then use some cocoa butter after you've rinsed off the oil in the morning.

However, you may want to see a Dr. because this could be something like Dermatitis or Eczema, or another skin condition, that may require a prescription.

I used to work with a lot of inks and solvents so I think it may be because of that...

That could be the problem then. I've got very dry skin too. Especially in the winter of course. I do find soaking my hands and feet in warm water, and then literally dosing them in olive oil and putting on gloves or even wollen mittens or socks I've done also, tends to work really well. I also take the time to put the olive oil in my hair too, and wrap it in a warm towel.

Then I jump into a frying pan, and I'm ready to go... LOL! ;)

Edit:: Just another thought. You may want to try some polysporin or another antibiotic cream afterwards also, to heal the cracks.

Try Gold Bond Ultimate Restoring Skin Therapy Lotion... it works wonderful for me. You can find one at CVS or any drug store.. $7-8

Thanks for all the help!

Something else just came to mind, that I haven't used in a long time, so actually thanks for bringing this up Shorty! I know this may sound gross, but at most beauty supply stores, or if not there, at a farm supply store. It's a cream (or almost vaseline type base) for cow teets. Yuck right?--but it really does work very well for dry cracked skin.

It just went on my shopping list! ;)

Wonder if Starbuck8 is thinking of Utter Butter,
Neosporin works as well as Vitamin E, put hole in capsule and squeeze onto fingers. I would cut fingernails as short as possible as well.
I', just getting my fingers back from a job that had a Lot of steel, and Coral Pavers, I think the dust got into scrapes while working this job. Good Luck.