Please help with child's skin condition

Hi,

I'm hoping someone here might can help identify the problem with my child's
hands. Here are three close-ups:

http://home.midsouth.rr.com/themitchells5/

The child is 8 years old. He's had the condition for 2-3 years. The
bubbles are dry, there is no fluid of any type. The condition is always
present, but the severity changes, according to no schedule or cause that we
can determine. It doesn't hurt or itch to any significant degree.

For now I won't say what the doctor told us, but the ointments he prescribed
did not help.

Input appreciated.

jm