Finger Cuticle Receding

Hi Medical Community,

The skin near my cuticle is irritated and it is dry, dark colored, and cracked.  The worst part is it has receeded to the point that the bottom of nail is exposed!

Does anyone know what causes this?  The bottom of the nail being exposed, I mean the part where the nail starts growing which would normally be UNDER the cuticle...

Any Ideas? I have never seen anything like this before and it is really starting to worry me that the cuticle will keep receding all the way to my knuckes and I have to get my finger amputated.

Please help!