Getting skin irritation from your Apple Watch? Apple says you might be wearing it wrong

posted by Alan F. / May 03, 2015, 11:28 PM

If wearing the Apple Watch irritates your skin, Apple says you might be wearing it wrong

It appears that some Apple Watch users are experiencing a skin irritation from wearing their new smartwatch. Rashes and ugly looking red welts have appeared on the wrists of those who are allergic to the materials that are being used to produce the watch and bands. One Apple Watch owner who had an allergic reaction on his wrist after wearing the device called Apple. The tech titan spent about 20 minutes on the phone getting medical history voluntarily, for research purposes.

Apple says that every metal that touches your skin goes through tests. In addition, the company consults with board-certified dermatologists. Even so, some people are sensitive to the materials employed by Apple. "If you have a problem with nickel, the material is used on the Apple Watch, the space gray Apple Watch Sport, the stainless steel portions of some Apple Watch bands, and the magnets in the watch and bands." The amount of nickel used by Apple is reportedly not enough to cause problems, but those very sensitive to the material should say clear of the above-mentioned products.

Similarly, if you have trouble with the adhesive used on Band Aids, you might want to stay away from the Apple Watch case, the Milanese Loop, the Modern Buckle, and the Leather Loop. All of these contain small amounts of methacrylates, which is the same material used on bandages. Apple says that any part of the Apple Watch or its bands that contain methacrylates do not touch the user's skin. Still, if you are sensitive to the material, your best bet is to stay away from it.

Similar to Steve Jobs' comments that Apple iPhone 4 owners were holding their phone wrong, the company says that some Apple Watch users are wearing the timepiece incorrectly. Apple says that if you have the band too tight, it can cause irritation, and if you wear the band too loosely it can cause rubbing. Apple says that you need to have the band tightened just right. If you're not Goldilocks, this means that it should be snug, but comfortable.

Apple says that if you are experiencing irritation from wearing your Apple Watch, you should consult your physician before putting it back on your wrist.

Some Apple Watch wearers are experiencing allergic reactions from wearing the device"

Thanks for the tip, Suzanne!

source: Apple via iClarified

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57 Comments

1. waddup121 unregistered

Skin Irritation from a Watch. That's a killer!

posted on May 03, 2015, 11:32 PM 13

3. Sauce5 unregistered

That stinks. Depends on your body unfortunately. My friend can't wear any stainless steal watches or jewelry on his wrist or neck. Bummer I guess for those who love watches etc.

posted on May 03, 2015, 11:35 PM 5

5. waddup121 unregistered

Oh so its more like a medical problem, but then people take the fault to Apple. Haah.

posted on May 03, 2015, 11:37 PM 14

10. orphant

Posts: 35; Member since: Oct 22, 2014

Well, it's certainly understandable where these unhappy customers are coming from. I'm personally not in the market for any smart watch, but I'm very allergic to Nickel. I'm assuming then that I wouldn't be able to use the watch, which is kind of a bummer to people that DO want to wear it and are allergic to nickel. It's a very cheap material employed to save money; nickel is used in budget low-end jewelry and it's sad to see that Apple couldn't be bothered to use premium materials on their new watch.

posted on May 03, 2015, 11:52 PM 0

18. Taters

Posts: 6474; Member since: Jan 28, 2013

It is Apples fault because people have been wearing watches, including android wear, for ages without issues.

posted on May 04, 2015, 12:15 AM 11

22. Sauce5 unregistered

Wrong.

posted on May 04, 2015, 12:21 AM 2

35. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

Wrong, would you like us all here to do the worlds simplest google search and prove you wrong so hard a nokia will fly from the sky and knock your momma up with some bastard child call a mokia? Seriously though, pebble, smart bands etc, have all caused irritation to skin. This is NOT uncommon by any means.

posted on May 04, 2015, 6:34 AM 0

56. ecmedic4

Posts: 520; Member since: May 02, 2013

Yes because Apple can totally predict everyones allergies that buy the watch. Give me a break. Its not Apple's fault some ppl are allergic to the materials used. Its not the users fault either, as they can't control what they are allergic to. Its really no ones fault, its just an unfortunate issue that some ppl may encounter if they are very allergic to the materials used.

posted on May 05, 2015, 10:37 PM 0

46. SuperAndroidEvo

Posts: 4888; Member since: Apr 15, 2011

I have owned watches all my life, stainless steel, titanium, & leather, never have I ever got a rash...Why would a watch do this?!?

posted on May 04, 2015, 9:54 AM 0

50. aahmed215

Posts: 169; Member since: Jun 18, 2012

Congratulations. You don't have allergic reactions to certain materials. Not everyone is like you. I've had stainless steel and rubber bands for regular watches and the Moto 360. I sometimes get skin irritation if I wear it for too long (both the normal watches and Moto 360).

posted on May 04, 2015, 3:14 PM 2

31. nwright94

Posts: 211; Member since: Oct 14, 2014

My Pebble's original strap irritated my skin so much because of the steel clasp, it would almost burn my skin. I had to switch to a cloth band. Also, it's only natural that a watch sliding up and down your skin is going to irritate it. This is what any other watch manufacturer would tell you if you complained about their watch irritating your skin.

posted on May 04, 2015, 5:04 AM 2

41. j2001m

Posts: 3061; Member since: Apr 28, 2014

Problems is with Apple, you can not just change and any change is going to cost you big time

posted on May 04, 2015, 8:05 AM 0

2. mahima

Posts: 727; Member since: Nov 20, 2014

ouch!!

posted on May 03, 2015, 11:35 PM 0

4. RoboticEngi

Posts: 1251; Member since: Dec 03, 2014

Omfg, why use nickel in skin touching metals? Then you are asking for it (or didn't do your homework)

posted on May 03, 2015, 11:36 PM 11

53. ibend

Posts: 6747; Member since: Sep 30, 2014

they need to learn more about wirstwatch before making one... they already recruited one executive form TAGheuer, and he turn out to be vice president of sales from TAGheuer.. it look like apple only care about sales, and dont care about any watchmaking art -_-

posted on May 04, 2015, 9:40 PM 0

6. gaming64 unregistered

Well that was unexpected

posted on May 03, 2015, 11:40 PM 0

7. Commentator

Posts: 3722; Member since: Aug 16, 2011

"An overly tight band can cause skin irritation. A band that’s too loose can cause rubbing." These seem like pretty basic watch-wearing guidelines. It'd be like a clothing company suggesting that someone to not wear their shirt inside-out or backwards. Clever title though, I'm sure it'll drive the clicks!

posted on May 03, 2015, 11:46 PM 7

8. gaming64 unregistered

Exactly what I'm thinking right now. Blame the material you used Apple!

posted on May 03, 2015, 11:50 PM 1

14. Commentator

Posts: 3722; Member since: Aug 16, 2011

Oh they do. The source material can be found here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204665 Apple mentions that a small number of people with nickel allergies may be at risk. PhoneArena couldn't be bothered to link to it though. Apparently the thirty seconds it took to find on Apple's website was a bit too much digging, so they settled on citing another third-party source instead (which ALSO doesn't link to the original source. Journalists, right?)

posted on May 04, 2015, 12:01 AM 3

16. orphant

Posts: 35; Member since: Oct 22, 2014

This is good, thank you for linking the source.

posted on May 04, 2015, 12:11 AM 0

20. Commentator

Posts: 3722; Member since: Aug 16, 2011

Update: The source is now posted. You're welcome PA, I guess...

posted on May 04, 2015, 12:20 AM 1

12. orphant

Posts: 35; Member since: Oct 22, 2014

Unfortunately the "shirts" in this situation are causing irritation due to the materials used, and are going to illicit allergic reactions no matter how tightly they're worn.

posted on May 03, 2015, 11:54 PM 1

17. Commentator

Posts: 3722; Member since: Aug 16, 2011

Some people are allergic to the nickel in watches and some people are allergic to polyester in clothing. The "wearing it too loose/tight" instruction has little to nothing to do with people getting rashes due to an allergy, but the point is that some people may be getting a rash due NOT to an allergy, but instead to how they are wearing the watch. Apple covers both bases here. That they chose to build their product this way is another story...

posted on May 04, 2015, 12:13 AM 0

36. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

My MS Band when i wear the watch face out instead on the inside, the heart rate monitor burned a irritation spot that lasted like 4 weeks on me, a fun little square. Does not hurt the top. I notice irritation if i wear it to tight. But this is certainly normal for people with sensi skin or just not used to a watch.

posted on May 04, 2015, 6:50 AM 0

19. Taters

Posts: 6474; Member since: Jan 28, 2013

Lots of people like wearing the watch really loose or really tight. Go to any watch board like watchu seek and you see tons of those including myself. My wrists expands a lot throughout the day and I just wear it loose enough that I never have to adjust it and no watch has given me issues yet. Although some mechanical watch manuals say that I run the risk of early service if I wear it too loose,

posted on May 04, 2015, 12:19 AM 0

9. arch_angel

Posts: 1651; Member since: Feb 20, 2015

Smh apple i expected more from you. I might not like your products but i always thought they were made from high quality materials but i guess not now.

posted on May 03, 2015, 11:52 PM 2

54. ibend

Posts: 6747; Member since: Sep 30, 2014

apple product is made in china and 80-95% of material they use also from china, what will u expect :P

posted on May 04, 2015, 10:40 PM 1

57. ecmedic4

Posts: 520; Member since: May 02, 2013

A lot of things ppl buy today are made in China, not just Apple products. Im sure you own lots of things that are made in China, but of course you don't criticize them since they are not Apple products. Haters will be haters I guess.

posted on May 05, 2015, 10:46 PM 0

11. seven7dust unregistered

crazy , looks like the Apple watch is turning out to be a bad launch , too many models and too many materials ,can't buy one physially , this is not the way Apple usually operates. maybe they should go back to the steve jobs philosophy. personally I'd prefer if they used aluminium for the entire range and made a space grey verson would have been lighter scratch free and more unique to stainles steel watches , which are so common. aluminium linkbracelet would have been awesome and new.

posted on May 03, 2015, 11:54 PM 3

13. gaming64 unregistered

If they went back to Steve Jobs philosophy, then no iPhone 6 and no grand sales. Steve Jobs shaped the company to what it is today but his leadership also made downsides.

posted on May 03, 2015, 11:57 PM 1

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