ughhhh dry skin!!! Mine only get bad in the winter. Last year I started a thread on it too. it's HORRIBLE. for some reason this year (knock on wood!!!) they haven't been bad at all - no more than your normal dry skin. So I just use regular bath and body works lotion and they're fine. Last year I went to the dermatologist and got something called Lammonium LAC. a trick is to put globs and globs of it on and then put gloves on over it (material gloves, not winter gloves) while you sleep at night. It helps SO much. it's NASTY as anything - but when my hands got bad I would have done anything!
I remember one Christmas when I was probably 5 or 6 my brother had to open all of my presents for me because my hands were so bad I couldn't undo the paper.
I really hope you can find something that helps you! I know how miserable it is!!