[Lisa~]

You're going to get callouses. It's just part of lifting. You should, however, learn to take care of your hands. Chalk really dries out your skin. It's best to wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you're done with your workout. Then apply lotion, even better if it has a mild alpha hydroxy acid in it. If your callouses are getting really thick and are at risk of ripping, then you can apply lotion at night to help exfloliate them, or you can file them down.

Oman, I wish I could remember what big powerlifting guy it was that made jokes about just biting them off, lol. I just can't pull that silliness up in my mind right now. :p