Consider it a right of passage, although I believe the introductory offer than GT are offering for new annual members has some stick on finger pads that are designed to help, which I'm assuming you can buy seperately if you're not in a position to sign up for (another) year. Failing that, super glue is an alternative - sterile (?) and tough.

Most definitely stop before blister popping time - if not for your own health (guitar strings aren't known for their bacteria resistance, although do tend to have nice dirt trapping winding, and healing in general will take weeks and not days) then just not covering your guitar in puss an blood...