Ice climbing post tattoo

Hey all.  I've read a few of the previous threads on this subject.  But I wanted to get some opinions from the climbers here.

I had the black line work done on a half sleeve this Monday.

I'm considering ice climbing over the weekend.  I'm doing the AMGA ice instructor course over the first week in Feb. so I'm attempting to get on my tools as much as possible right now.  But I also don't want to screw up something permanent over a weekend of climbing.

My artist said that he though the line work would be fine, and just to make a point of cleaning it thoroughly if I climbed with it.  
My concern was the sleeves of my polypro rubbing against the fresh ink.  I couldn't find much specific to this online, but when I searched for recommendations on skiing after a tattoo I found a lot of suggestions to hold off for a few weeks.  

Thoughts on this?
If I do climb on it, any suggestions on how to protect the new work?  Possibly wrapping my arm in a sterile gauze to reduce rubbing? 

You're gonna dye.

SethG wrote: You're gonna dye.

Obviously, I know that.
The question is if the line work will look faded on my frozen corpse or not. 

I think you'd be fine. If worried you could always wrap in saran wrap which would stop the abrasion, I think it'd be better than gauze.

If you left it though I can't imagine it would be anything worse than just annoying though, I've climbed immediately after significant sleeve work and it turned out fine.

I've got quite a bit of ink and climbed pretty much immediately after, with no problems, ice is a lot easier than rock to keep everything clean.
 if I remember correctly I taped a bandage over my half sleeve when climbing to reduce the chafing, and I took care to keep the ink moist, but at almost a week out, and especially with just linework that shouldn't be an issue.

Kris Fiore wrote: I think you'd be fine. If worried you could always wrap in saran wrap which would stop the abrasion, I think it'd be better than gauze.

If you left it though I can't imagine it would be anything worse than just annoying though, I've climbed immediately after significant sleeve work and it turned out fine.

Thanks! Annoying I can deal with.  I was concerned about friction with the sleeves pulling scabs and the like.
I don't care if it hurts a little, just don't want to mess up the work.

Tegaderm.

i recently had work done on my calf and went skiing the next day.  I wrapped plastic wrap around my lower leg where the ski boots rubbed on the tattoo.  That seemed to work. I had my wife take a look the next day and she could not see anything abnormal or off.

When you get tattoo'd that ink is VERY far under your skin. Its why its permanent...its actually pretty difficult to damage a tattoo just through touching/rubbing unless it is quite heavy and causes deep trauma. Of much greater consequence is exposure to ultraviolet rays (don't leave fresh in the sun all day, the upper layers of skin are already very damaged and this will impede with healing) and moisture (don't spend the day in the ocean for a couple weeks after a tat...). Some saran wrap and tape do wonders for keeping it all covered and healing. Let it breathe at night so that you don't get it too wet/mushy/swamp rotty if you are lubricating with aquaphor or similar. 

Don’t wrap with plastic wrap. It’s terrible for it. Needs to breathe. Aquaphor and keep it moist

Cut your arm off and re-attach later.

Cody Marcheson wrote: Don’t wrap with plastic wrap. It’s terrible for it. Needs to breathe. Aquaphor and keep it moist

Totally! But in case you do NEED to have layers over the area, some plastic wrap for a couple hours is much better than aquaphor'ed tatt brushing up on your baselayers.

I would more concerned with scratching that itch under all those layers than fading 

Bill Kirby wrote: I would more concerned with scratching that itch under all those layers than fading 

It actually doesn't itch much at all yet (and hasn't scabbed at all)
Just feels like a mild sunburn.

I think the color and shading work (happening later) will likely be more sore and scab more, since they'll cover a larger area than the lines. 

I have many tattoos and haven't ever had an issue with it. I would just aquaphor it up and go for it. 

Bill Kirby wrote: I would more concerned with scratching that itch under all those layers than fading 

Or staining base layers with seeping ink.

Gabe Cisneros wrote:

Or staining base layers with seeping ink.

Umm, why are stains on base layers an issue? 

The real problem with ice climbing after a new tattoo is that after spending all that money, no one can see it while you’re all layered up.

Ryan M Moore wrote:

Umm, why are stains on base layers an issue? 

The real problem with ice climbing after a new tattoo is that after spending all that money, no one can see it while you’re all layered up.

You don't take care of your expensive outdoor clothing?

Gabe Cisneros wrote:

You don't take care of your expensive outdoor clothing?

 No way bro-more Maryland! Can’t look like a noob! 

 There’s not even a tear under the duct tape on my belay coat! I just like the look.

I use tech wash, down specific wash, re DWR, and restitch my expensive gear. I don’t worry about discoloration or any thing that has no bearing on performance. I would buy hot pink outerwear if it gave a 50% discount on goretex pro.

Clothing is aid.

EDIT: in sub 30F temps, one tube sock is permissible.