My husband went to work and came home with dry cracked skin on the back of his hands. this has never happened before.

Irritant dermatitis?: Can develop depending on the type of work/conditions/exposure to chemicals etc. may need to be seen if doesn't settle with a simple moisturiser

Cracked hands : Weather or exposure to chemicals can cause hands to crack . Try over the counter moisturiser .

Dry hands: Soak in warm or hot water for at least 10 minutes. Use towel for 5 seconds. Then use a ceramide cream vigorously. Eucerin, Aveeno, Cetaphil, CeraVe, generics contain ceramides. Use the cream several times a day and after a soak every night.