Can I wash my smartwatch

8 Ways to Avoid Rashes or Burns from Your Smartwatch or Fitness Band

Smartwatches have become daily wear for a lot of people. Wearables like Apple Watch, Fitbit, Samsung Galaxy, Garmin, and more are used not only as health trackers but also as everyday accessories. That has resulted in problems like skin irritation, rashes, and even burns for some. Here, lets see everything you can do to avoid and minimize rashes or burns caused by your smartwatch or fitness band.

Image: MelMagazine

Avoid Rashes or Burns from Your Smartwatches or Band

Many people have complained of getting rashes and skin irritation on their wrists after wearing smartwatches for a prolonged period. Some have even complained of getting burns from wearing Fitbit and Apple Watch.

Heres why it happens and how to avoid rashes and skin problems caused by your smartwatch or fitness tracker.

Check if Youre Allergic to Smartwatch Metal or Latex

Most tier-1 smartwatches are tested thoroughly for the materials to be approved for the wider audience. However, some people are sensitive to specific materials, which can lead to Contact dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis is an itchy rash caused by contact with an allergic material or substance. And some people can be sensitive to the smartwatchs metal casing or the rubber/ latex used in its strap, which can lead to a reaction that usually shows up within days of wearing the smartwatch.

For starters, Apple extensively evaluates materials on its smartwatches, including material composition tests, over a thousand prototypes worn for trial studies, thousands of toxicological assessments, and consultations with board-certified dermatologists.

Apple Watch Skin Sensitivities

The Cupertino-giant clarifies that Apple Watches with stainless steel or aluminum casings, metallic buttons, and portions contain Nickel. While the levels are well under regulations, some people can be susceptible to nickel-related reactions. Furthermore, the watch case and specific straps contain a fraction of acrylates and methacrylates from adhesives.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Skin Sensitivities

Samsung has mentioned the materials used on Galaxy Watches Nickel on the main body and band buckles and Acrylate on the main body and band. Similarly, Fitbit has a dedicated landing page for wrist care, which clearly says the devices contain Nickel and trace amounts of acrylates and methacrylates.

Fitbit Skin Sensitivities

If you experience swelling, redness, itchiness, or any other kind of skin irritation after wearing a smartwatch for a long, consult your physician to see if its causing an allergy. It could be that your skin is sensitive to one of the materials used on the smartwatch or fitness tracker.

The allergies can also be caused by:

• Soap or sanitizers
• Skin creams and lotions
• Trapped sweat or moisture
• Climate or humidity
• Fungal infections and more

Ensure the Straps Are Not Too Loose or Tight

A smartwatch requires snug skin contact for features like heart rate, blood oxygen tracking, sleep measurement, and ECG to work properly. However, some people wrap them too tight around their wrists, which can cause skin irritation.

Make sure the band is neither too loose nor too tight. It should fit just right while leaving enough breathing room for the skin to keep you comfortable while allowing sensors to work correctly at the same time.

Clean Your Smartwatch and Skin

Trapped soap, dirt, or sweat often cause skin irritation and itchiness on the wrist. Hence, its advisable to clean both- the back of your smartwatch and the wrist skin daily, especially if you sweat a lot or are exposed to soap every day.

This will ensure the smartwatch doesnt trap sweat or foreign particles that may cause allergy. You can clean the smartwatch with water and a soft, damp microfibre cloth. Whereas the wrist can be washed with a handwash or soap solution. Wear the smartwatch only after drying it properly.

Switch to Different Straps

The smartwatch straps may cause skin allergies in some people. Many in the past have reported that their Apple Watch caused rashes, redness, and swelling on the wrist. If thats the case with you, make sure you:

• Clean the straps every once in a while.
• Give them a few days to see if it starts feeling any better.
• Switch to a different pair of straps, preferably made of a different material.

If you arent comfortable with the default straps, consider switching to soft plastic straps with holes. Those will provide better skin breathability, avoiding trapping moisture or sweat underneath.

Use Moisturizer, Clear Nailpolish, or a Piece of Tape

People with sensitive skin can still wear smartwatches without rashes or irritation by breaking direct contact with smartwatch materials. You can apply a layer of moisturizer over your skin or paste clear nail polish or a piece of clear tape on the back of your smartwatch.

This way, you can keep wearing the smartwatch while avoiding allergies due to Nickel. And do not worry; as long as the layer is thin and transparent, the sensors on your smartwatch will continue working normally.

Some people have even tried placing a cutout piece of folded tissue between the wrist and watch, which helps them avoid direct skin contact with the metal. You can experiment to see what works best for you while maintaining the sensors accuracy.

Take Frequent Breaks

Yes, you dont always have to wear your smartwatch or fitness tracker. Take frequent breaks to give rest to your wrist and relieve the hand nerves from constant pressure. You can remove the watch while taking a bath, having your lunch or dinner, or even while sleeping if youre not into tracking the sleep stages.

This will also help you avoid chronic pain from wearing smartwatches for prolonged periods. If youve already got a rash, keep your smartwatch away for a day or two.

Wearing Smartwatch 24 x 7? Switch Between the Hands

If youre continuously wearing a smartwatch and cant help taking breaks, consider switching between your hands daily. Doing so will avoid prolonged exposure to the smartwatch on a particular wrist, giving it enough rest.

Smartwatch Battery Causing Overheating and Wrist Burns?

In the past, people have reported burns on their wrists due to smartwatches. Particularly, Fitbit was in big news for its Ionic smartwatch burning peoples hands. The brand recalled nearly 2 billion units of the watch over the reports of the lithium-ion battery overheating and causing burn injuries on the wrist.

Fortunately, the brand addressed the problem, and the watch was already discontinued in 2020. So yes, a smartwatch can cause burns on the wrist if it has a faulty battery. If youre experiencing any overheating with your Apple Watch, Fitbit, or any other smartwatch, stop using it and contact the manufacturer for further assistance.

If the product is under warranty, you will likely get a refund or a free replacement, provided its a manufacturing defect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can Smartwatches or Fitness Bands Cause Skin Irritation?

Yes. Smartwatches and fitness bands use certain materials like Nickel and Acrylates on the body and certain parts of straps, which can cause skin irritation for people with sensitive skin.

Q. Can a Smartwatch Burn My Skin?

If your smartwatch has a faulty battery, it may overheat, causing burns on your wrist. Fitbit had to recall over 1 billion smartwatches over the reports of them burning wrists due to overheating.

Q. How to Treat a Rash Caused by Smartwatch?

If you have a rash after wearing a smartwatch, do the following:

• Stop wearing the watch for a while- give it a break.
• Refrain from itching or scratching the affected area.
• Use an over-the-counter cream or ointment to cure the rash.
• Keep the skin moisturized using moisturizers that contain glycerine, lipids, and ceramides.
• Try finding the exact cause of the rash or allergy.

Q. When to Visit a Dermatologist for Skin Issues Caused by Smartwatch?

If the rashes dont go after over-the-counter treatments or continue to persist even after youve stopped wearing the smartwatch, you should visit a dermatologist.

Q. How to Choose an Irritation-free Smartwatch?

If you have sensitive skin, follow the checklist when buying a smartwatch:

• Smartwatch case material: What is the smartwatch made of? Does it have materials like Nickel and Acrylates? Are you allergic to these materials?
• Strap material:Check if youre allergic to the strap material. Prefer a soft silicon strap- you can try and switch to other strap materials later.
• Strap design: Opt for a breathable strap design, especially if youre a gym-goer or sweat a lot.
• Smartwatch weight: A heavy smartwatch may feel uncomfortable and cause strain over extended periods. It may also cause irritation if worn tightly.

Wrapping Up

These were handy ways to avoid rashes, itching, and burns from wearing smartwatches or fitness trackers. As evident, the materials used on smartwatches may not suit everybody. In that case, you can try different straps or casings altogether or build a barrier to avoid direct skin contact when wearing the watch. Anyways, does your smartwatch cause any rashes or skin irritation? Let us know via comments.

You can also follow us for instant tech news atGoogle Newsor for tips and tricks, smartphones & gadgets reviews, joinGadgetsToUse Telegram Groupor for the latest review videos subscribeGadgetsToUse Youtube Channel.

How-To Geek

Washing your hands is an important part of personal hygiene, but what about the gadget on your wrist? Everywhere you go, it goes, too. You probably also use it with dirty hands while you're out and about.

The coronavirus can live on a smartphone for up to 96 hours. Your smartwatch or wearable could also be a vector for disease, unless you clean it regularly.

How to Clean and Disinfect Your Smartwatch

Your smartwatch is a fitness tracker, communication device, and can even replace your bank card for contactless payments. Going to the gym, accepting calls, and touching payment terminals can contaminate your wearable. If you touch your watch without cleaning it properly, you could be transferring germs.

Microorganisms that cause the flu and COVID-19 have been found to live on hard metal surfaces for up to three days, so cleaning everything regularly is important to avoid getting sick.

Apple recently updated its cleaning guidelines, recommending people disinfect their gadgets with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol of around 70 percent concentration, or withdisinfectant wipesthat contain the same. Rubbing alcohol kills most microorganisms on contact, and then evaporates, leaving a clean and smudge-free surface.

While the guidelines for cleaning your Apple Watch are specific to Apple products, most manufacturers use similar materials, including glass, stainless steel, and nylon. This suggests Apple's guidance can be applied to similar products. Just remember, if you break something by not following the manufacturer's cleaning instructions, your warranty will be void.

You should be mindful of the instructions provided by your smartwatch manufacturer when cleaning it. Water isn't sufficient if you want to properly sanitize your watch. Apple's guidelines reiterate that alcohol shouldn't damage glass, metal, silicon, or many plastics. It's a decision you'll have to make yourself.

With that in mind, cleaning your smartwatch is pretty straightforward. First,remove the watch band from the main unit.Assuming the watch is water-resistant, rinse the watch in warm water to remove as much dirt and grime as possible before you disinfect.

Dirt can trap germs and other harmful microbes, so you want to be sure to remove it all, and then disinfect afterward. You can saturate a cotton ball in isopropyl alcohol to spot clean any particularly stubborn grime.

Next, use rubbing alcohol or similar wipes to disinfect the watch all over.Clean the band according to the manufacturer instructions---take care to spot clean leather without saturating it. If possible (and if you're comfortable doing so), disinfect the band with isopropyl alcohol.

Metal, silicone, and plastic watchbands are unlikely to be damaged by isopropyl alcohol. Nylon bands are also unlikely to be damaged, although Apple recommends against using rubbing alcohol on any of its fabric bands. We recommend performing a tester on an inconspicuous spot first.

Finally, allow the alcohol to evaporate before reassembling your watch. All done!

Related: How to Clean and Disinfect Your Apple Watch

How to Clean Your Fitness Tracker

Fitness trackers are a lot like smartwatches, except they're usually designed to be worn for longer periods of time. Fitbit has specific recommendations for cleaning its fitness trackers.Like Apple, this includes using isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol to disinfect devices.

Further, Fitbit recommends avoiding soap-based cleansers and other products that can get trapped in the band and cause skin irritation. Instead, the company recommends soap-free cleansers, plus a good rinse to make sure any dirt is sufficiently washed away.

Fitness and activity trackers are designed for exercise, so, of course, they get sweaty. A quick rinse in the shower is a good start, but it won't kill germs or remove more stubborn, stuck-on grime where harmful microorganisms can live.

That's why you should take care to remove and clean your fitness tracker regularly---especially after you work out.

Cleaning your fitness tracker is just like cleaning a smartwatch. You'll first need toremove the band from the unit, if possible (Fitbit owners can follow the company'sofficial guidelinesto do this).

Assuming the tracker is water-resistant, rinse it under a tap to remove as much dirt as possible.If you see dirt remove as much of it as possible. Spot clean any stubborn patches with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab to loosen it up.

When the tracker is visibly clean, thoroughly disinfect it with rubbing alcohol or similar disinfectant wipes.Clean the band according to manufacturer's instructions (again, Fitbit hasofficial guidelines).Disinfect the band with isopropyl alcohol or disinfectant wipes, if possible.

After the alcohol evaporates completely, reattach the band.

Don't Forget Your Other Wearables

Smartwatches and fitness trackers aren't the only wearables you need to clean regularly. Anything you wear out of the house is exposed to potentially harmful germs. This includes jewelry, badges, wearable cameras, and headphones and earbuds.

You should also sanitize regularly anything you touch a lot, like your smartphone, keyboard, mouse, and any other gadgets.

Related: How to Clean and Disinfect All Your Gadgets