There is this funny little thingy on my hand. I want to know what it is.

It is located at the base of my index finger. It appears to be a small hole 
through the outer layers of my skin; the outer layers of (dead?) skin are
slightly raised up around it. I can clip away the raised skin without pain.
In fact, the area doesn't hurt, and never has. Its been there for at least
four years. Probably eight. I keep meaning to ask a doctor whenever I see
one, but I'm otherwise pretty healthy, and havn't needed to see a doctor more
than three times or so in that time. Usually with a much more pressing concern.

I've got a picture of it at:
http://www.hypercomplex.net/~jkominek/skin_oddity_small.jpg

There is a larger version of the picture. You might very well be able to
guess the address for it. If not, just ask for a clarification. It is 1.5
megabytes or so. I'd like to save on hosting bandwidth, so if you're just
browsing through questions, please don't try to pull up the larger version
of the image. Thanks.

So, again: what is this thing on my hand?
For bonus points: why is it there?
Extra bonus points: what, if anything, can be done to make it go away permenantly?

If I've left out any pieces of information necessary for
identification, don't hesitate to ask.

You must see a doctor.

It's probably something and nothing that can be easily treated, if necessary.

Probably a wart.Tea Tree Oil is agreat home remedy for them.

It hasn't ever changed size, hurt, spread or had any effect on my health
that I'm aware of. As near as I can tell, it is wholly cosmetic. So I have
a hard time believing that it is "something", let alone something that means
I "must" see a doctor.

Thanks for the concern, but if I was going to go see a doctor about it, I
already would've.