I sometimes have this problem with the thumb on my right hand. It cracks and will bleed if I am not careful. I know handling fabric is part of the problem because I spend a lot of time with fabric. But I also know it is a lot of hand washing, heated dry air, etc.-just a winter time thing. I use the Aquafor ointment and sometimes butterfly bandaids. It usually goes away in two or three days. It is a bummer but manageable.