Hand skin barrier breakdown (Warning: Graphic photo)

My boyfriend's skin barrier on his hands is completely compromised. When it gets dry, there is a lot of flaking, and when it touches water, it gets fully absorbed and swollen. A regular dermatology clinic only gave him a steroid ointment, so we went to a leprosy clinic, where they told us to go to a university hospital. We made an appointment at Seoul National University Hospital, but they said the earliest appointment is next December. He doesn't really work with chemicals, but he has a bit of OCD and washes his hands very vigorously, which I suspect might be the cause. However, I don't know the exact cause, and I'm not sure which hospital to go to. I would appreciate any advice you can give me.