I've had a skin problem on my right middle finger for at least 2 months now. It started as a small lesion or cluster of bumps which would itch and burn like crazy deep under my skin at times - so much so, that I wanted to take a knife and carve/gouge the whole thing out, though I never did. Sometimes this rash or cluster of bumps would even release a clear orange pus.

Then the problem got worse, though I'm not sure what caused it to get worse. It turned into deep cracks in the skin that would bleed and pus when I would bend my knuckles. I tried to keep it out of dish water, and I tried to keep it dry in the shower, unsure if soaps and shampoos were harsh enough to make it worse. There was much redness on my skin around the whole area.

Then my skin formed big thick ugly scabs over "whatever this was." When they shed, like if I bent my fingers too hard or too fast before they (hopefully) healed, my skin would crack, bleed, and pus all over again.

I've tried a lotion, powder, and alco-sulph - some medicine with sulphur and maybe alcohol in it. The finger is a little better, but to be honest, this has gone on for over 2 months, and I don't know if my finger will ever return to normal with my current course of action. Does anyone know what this is, and how to get rid of it, whether through diet, medicine, or both?

That sounds very annoying, to say the least. Have you seen a doctor about this?

No health insuarance, and I'm unemployed and under-employed, so I can't afford to spend very much money on a doctor. And that's if any of them are willing to see me. Maybe there's a cheapo clinic somewhere.

If you are in the U.S. you can go to most ERs and be seen for free by a doctor. Medicaid will pay for it.