maybe this could help with the skin problem. As a rower, blisters and broken skin is a common thing. What we use to aid the skin, and to harden it, is called 'kampferspiritus' (dutch) and I think the English translation is spirit of camphor. It's a liquid that you can put on your hands, but you have to take two things into account. First don't put it on already wounded hands, or else you will be in a world of pain (speaking from experience) and second when calluses form be sure to treat them, or else beneath it blisters will form again.
Don't know it is available in the States but here you can get it from every drug stores. Hope this might help ...
Last edited by Kincain; 12-15-2009 at 05:03 AM. Reason: spelling