Climbing After A Tattoo

I recently got a tattoo running my forearm to bicep. I was told by another climber (with many tattoos) the stretching of the skin caused even by moderate climbing may damage a tattoo. Nearly all tattoo care instructions say working out is ok as long as you are careful to avoid scratching the area. Obviously I'm planning on taking some time off, but am not sure how long. Thanks!

Take it easy and don't stress the skin or sweat too much for about a week. After that, light workouts that don't scrape your arm are cool for a week or two, then it's fine to get back at it. A tattoo is physiologically similar to a burn, so it does scar your skin, and I guess it might get messes up with too much stretching but I've never specifically heard of that. The biggest thing is to keep it out of the sun for at least a month, then wear sunscreen for at least three more or it WILL bleach.

I wasn't climbing a whole lot at the time but I have a tattoo running down the inside of my forearm. I got it on vacation but was back at work in a woodshop within three days of getting it. I'm sure the amount that I stretch my arm in a full day of work is far more than an hour or two at the gym. Keep it clean and keep it moisturized. I really think just keeping it well moisturized should keep it from being affected by any stretching. Mine is still just as dark and crisp as it was a week after I got it.

vitamin A+D lotion for diaper rash is awesome for new tattoos. it doesn't speed the healing, which you don't want, but it keeps the skin soft and moist and gives it the nutrients it needs to heal really well.

as for stretching it out while climbing, my vote is to take it easy for a week or two max and then get on it.

Get it removed.
Don't do it again.
Problem solved.
Next...

Climbing is more important than your tattoo.

I agree with the above post that suggested you get it removed and forget about it.

I on the other hand im 70% covered in the dam things. A tattoo is a wound the exact shape of the tattoo. From what i have found in areas where you stretch or twist quite a bit it does fuck up the tattoo and require a retouch.

When you twist or stretch "contract a muscle" it pulls the scabs before they are healed taking the ink with it. Really i would just take a couple weeks off from climbing and let it heal. Go for a bike ride, hike or jog?

That stupid tattoo is forever and if it heals like shit it will either look like shot forever or you will just have to get it redone and then take a couple weeks off.

The sun is your enemy but it is also inevitable, the tattoo will fade at some point and your sweet tattoo will look like a drunken sailor. I have been tattooed for almost 20 years and i promise they fade. If you spend any time outside on the regular they will fade bad!

Thanks to all of you who provided some great feedback, very helpful! Think I'll just rest the area for a week or so and evaluate as time goes.

To the assholes who decided to hide behind the vale of their computer screens, hiding in their mom's basement, enjoy perpetually climbing medicore grades, loneliness, and all the other negative feelings associated with your douchbaggyness.

Cheers,

Kevin

I just got one dome last weekend and was wondering the same. I came to the conclusion that it wasnt going to matter that much. I work at a stone shop and am lifting heavy stones all day and cant imagine climbing could be any worse. Im just keeping a little bit of A&D on it to keep it moist.

Kevin Volkening wrote:Thanks to all of you who provided some great feedback, very helpful! Think I'll just rest the area for a week or so and evaluate as time goes. To the assholes who decided to hide behind the vale of their computer screens, hiding in their mom's basement, enjoy perpetually climbing medicore grades, loneliness, and all the other negative feelings associated with your douchbaggyness. Cheers, Kevin

whoa dude chill out.

Cheers, Keenan

Got lettering done on forearm from wrist to bicep as well. Went climbing next morning. Compression problems and long reaches = scratched the hell out of of my tattoo. My lettering has some holes in it now where bits sort of flaked away (sort of, because it didn't really flake away, but it looks like it did, if that makes any sense.)

Probably should have waited, but a weekend is only so long. Next time, climb then tat.

Wait until it stops flaking.

Even if you get a touch-up (plan on it), you don't want to cause any more stress on the area than you have to.

Get some A+D for it, wrap it in saran wrap, and your good to go. As long as it stays moist your fine.

you can climb right after you get a tattoo if you want.i know this since my wife is a tattoo artist.Kevin you have nothing to worry .just if its really sunny out just put a good amount of lotion on it.nothing with a scent,since it will make it all red.and a tattoo should never peel or flake.NEVER WRAP A TATTOO IN SARAN WRAP.
and to the people with a problem with tattoos(APBT and Thomas)keep your comments to yourself.you have a problem with tattoos thats your problem.if you think they are stupid i have awards and been in mags for mine,which brings money.so suck it

A friend of mine had an eagle done on his lower deltoid. Once he started working out, it stretched the top of the eagle's head and made it look like Sam the eagle from the Muppets

It might depend on where you got it. I have a half sleeve, and I think I waited 3 or 4 days after each sitting. I also kept it wrapped while I was climbing, which was pretty annoying, but it didn't dry out during my workout, so that might be worth thinking about. You'll probably be fine if you keep it moist and don't do anything to let it come into contact with the stone/wall. Look at it this way, a couple days off is worth having something cool like that that you'll dig forever.

Patrick Feeney wrote:you can climb right after you get a tattoo if you want.i know this since my wife is a tattoo artist.Kevin you have nothing to worry .just if its really sunny out just put a good amount of lotion on it.nothing with a scent,since it will make it all red.and a tattoo should never peel or flake.NEVER WRAP A TATTOO IN SARAN WRAP. and to the people with a problem with tattoos(APBT and Thomas)keep your comments to yourself.you have a problem with tattoos thats your problem.if you think they are stupid i have awards and been in mags for mine,which brings money.so suck it

If you read what i said you would have seen i said 70% of my own body is covered in tattoos.

I used to get all in a huff when i was a puppy about people/the world having a problem with my tattoos. At a certain point you get to a place in life and you could give a shit what anyone thinks about you so long as you are happy.

To be honest i got a good chuckle out to the other guys response that you identified as a "tattoo hater" also. For real his response just made me laugh a little as it offered the another persons perspective and there reaction to the the thread. To each their own just like our tattoos right;) I fo rone think it would be boring if everyone got along and we all go toff on the same stuff.

I have been in tattoo mags also but that whole "cool kid i am a heavily tattooed click" is so ghey and 8th grade!!

Hey man,

I'm a wildland firefighter and I got a half sleeve done on my upper arm dead in the middle of fire season. This means I was hiking around the woods with a chainsaw on my shoulder, a 50lb pack, (a shitty one at that, thanks uncle sam) sweating and brushing against trees and all kinds of stuff all day, every day. My tattoo looks awesome, didn't sustain any damage or anything like that. Just make sure you favor it for a few days. Hope this helps
-Trev

The worst things for tattoos are, water and sunlight. Grinding it unprotected against rock, not good either. I agree with Tyler said, Keep it moist and covered. Maybe stay off the overhanging offwidths for this week or two.
When I got mine My Dad said "The enemy will cut it off and make a lampshade out of it." and "Don't get one where the judge can see it."
That is sound advise. Good luck

Patrick, you are staying true to your stereotype. My humor=your rage. I have been in mags for my clean non inked skin...wah wah wah
PS: assuming is just that.

You can't do this now but.

The night you get work done once you get home rinse it off and remove whatever they have wrapped around it. Get Aquaphor and cover (think even coat) on the tattoo. Wrap it in Shrinkwrap for 6-8 hours (Nighttime is when I do it). Wake up the next morning and rinse off and pat down. continue with using Aquaphor instead of A&D for about a 1-2 weeks (you will heal much faster) then switch to unscented lotion.

For those saying this doesn't work and will ruin Tats. I am sure the group of people that recommended this are much better artists than anyone you know. I refused to do this and tried it on my Forearm to heal fast so I could climb. It worked great.