Make sure your hands are dry. Don't play after coming out of the shower, or doing dishes or stuff like that. I stopped bathing and doing the dishes entirely now. Haha :D

Anything that softens your skin will make damage more possible and pain more prevalent.

Oddly enough, there are some folks that say using a skin softener helps. I do not believe this, but there are two camps on the matter.

Then there is stuff you can get to put a hard coating on your finger tips temporarily. I don't believe in this stuff, either, but some do. It may work, but it only prolongs the toughening-up period.

IMO, The only thing is to keep up practice every day. I find after just a few days my finger tips start softening. I like clean hands when I play, but I will wash them several minutes before I play so they can dry well.