Allergic reaction to silicone tips on AirPods Pro (and PowerBeats Pro)

[iosuser]

So a few weeks ago all of a sudden my ears became allergic to my PowerBeats Pro, becoming itchy and ear drainage starts within an hour. I used them for months with no problem. I had this problem many many years ago, and I thought I had grown out of it. It's a mystery why it returned all of a sudden. Knowing the AirPods Pro tips will likely cause the same reaction from a thread on Apple, I tried it anyway. They lasted a bit longer before the itching started, and sure enough drainage started soon after.

Do any of you here have this allergic reaction? Any solutions, replacement tips, etc?

Allergic to AirPod Pro eartips - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

 

[aleksander.himmel]

So a few weeks ago all of a sudden my ears became allergic to my PowerBeats Pro, becoming itchy and ear drainage starts within an hour. I used them for months with no problem. I had this problem many many years ago, and I thought I had grown out of it. It's a mystery why it returned all of a sudden. Knowing the AirPods Pro tips will likely cause the same reaction from a thread on Apple, I tried it anyway. They lasted a bit longer before the itching started, and sure enough drainage started soon after.

Do any of you here have this allergic reaction? Any solutions, replacement tips, etc?

Allergic to AirPod Pro eartips - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

Comply Foam Tips Compatible with Apple Airpods Pro Generation 1 & 2

Treat your ears with Comply Foam ear tips specifically designed to deliver an elevated listening experience, snug and secure fit and block unwanted noise for AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro Generation 2.

www.complyfoam.com

 

[iosuser]

I bought some generic memory foam tips and it seems to have solved the problem for me.

 

[monroerr]

I reported my serious allergic reaction to the silicone-like AirPod Pro ear tips to Apple. It makes the device no longer usable. I do not expect a remedy from Apple but merely want them to have a record of the frequency with which this issue occurs. They apparently have opened a report with their engineering. There are 498 messages on this thread in the Apple Community support site. Thank you for the above aftermarket foam tip suggestions. I was surprised that this was already being addressed.

 

[doboy]

So a few weeks ago all of a sudden my ears became allergic to my PowerBeats Pro, becoming itchy and ear drainage starts within an hour. I used them for months with no problem. I had this problem many many years ago, and I thought I had grown out of it. It's a mystery why it returned all of a sudden. Knowing the AirPods Pro tips will likely cause the same reaction from a thread on Apple, I tried it anyway. They lasted a bit longer before the itching started, and sure enough drainage started soon after.

Do any of you here have this allergic reaction? Any solutions, replacement tips, etc?

Allergic to AirPod Pro eartips - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

I too developed the same reaction after using the APP for few months. I've been using in-ear type (Jaybird, Samsung, LG, Bose, etc) for at least a decade and never had any reaction to silicone tips. Even now, I'm fine using the black tips from my Samsung BT earphone so I'll likely order a generic (black) tips from Amazon to see if that mitigates the problem. Definitely disappointing.

edit: still having problems with generic black tips as well as Comply foam tips.

 

[canhaz]

Yes. My ears get itchy too. Ordered some aftermarket foam pad replacements.

 

[iosuser]

I too developed the same reaction after using the APP for few months. I've been using in-ear type (Jaybird, Samsung, LG, Bose, etc) for at least a decade and never had any reaction to silicone tips. Even now, I'm fine using the black tips from my Samsung BT earphone so I'll likely order a generic (black) tips from Amazon to see if that mitigates the problem. Definitely disappointing.

Same here. After my ears healed a week later, I tried on my Sony with silicone tips and had no reaction. I can’t be 100% certain they’re silicone but they feel just like the OEM AirPods Pro tips. The foam tips definitely did the trick. I wore the medium for a week or so and thought bass was greatly reduced. I then tried the small size and they sounded and even fit much better. I don’t mean to plug products here but if you have trouble finding one I can post the ones I bought here. I just picked one of the cheapest ones I saw on amazon.

 

[canhaz]

Yeah the Apple silicone also smells like cancer where my other Bose silicon tips are inert. Bit of a misstep from Apple there imo.

 

[doboy]

I just received these from Amazon so will update in few days. I ordered medium since I use medium Apple tips, but these seem to run slightly smaller so doesn't pass the fit test although it sounds fine to me and doesn't fall out so I won't be replacing them with large.

HATALKIN Ear Tips Compatible with AirPods Pro Eartips, Anti Slip Headphones Replacement Earbuds Soft Cover Case Earphone Tips Earplugs for AirPods Pro/AirPods 3(2 Pairs,Black-Medium)

ECO-friendly premium material Samll,Medium and Large Pink,White,Black,Red,Blue,Gray Durable,flexible,antistatic,removable and replaceable.

www.amazon.com

 

[monroerr]

I tried the memory foam tips made by Comply which I bought on Amazon. I used them 35 minutes the first night, and the very next day the moisture and itching had returned. By the end if the week it was back to the crusting and scaling of skin. Whatever it is about these devices I seem to get some sort of contact dermatitis. I am not saying that is the same problem as others, but I am disposing of them and going back to the original AirPods unfortunately.

 

[fab465]

Same here. After my ears healed a week later, I tried on my Sony with silicone tips and had no reaction. I can’t be 100% certain they’re silicone but they feel just like the OEM AirPods Pro tips. The foam tips definitely did the trick. I wore the medium for a week or so and thought bass was greatly reduced. I then tried the small size and they sounded and even fit much better. I don’t mean to plug products here but if you have trouble finding one I can post the ones I bought here. I just picked one of the cheapest ones I saw on amazon.

Comply Foam Tips Compatible with Apple Airpods Pro Generation 1 & 2

Treat your ears with Comply Foam ear tips specifically designed to deliver an elevated listening experience, snug and secure fit and block unwanted noise for AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro Generation 2.

www.complyfoam.com

same it thought it was me I have the power beats pro

 

[MisterSavage]

I developed a rash from the silicone Apple Watch band. Someone on here that had the same problem shared a link with me. I think it's a form of dermatitis if I remember correctly. I had to switch to a metal watch band to make it go away.

 

[jbachandouris]

I developed a rash from the silicone Apple Watch band. Someone on here that had the same problem shared a link with me. I think it's a form of dermatitis if I remember correctly. I had to switch to a metal watch band to make it go away.

The watch OEM Apple Watch bands are not made of silicone, the aftermarket ones are.

What materials are the bands made of? Apple's paired bands come in fluoroelastomer-style rubber.

 

[MisterSavage]

The watch OEM Apple Watch bands are not made of silicone, the aftermarket ones are.

What materials are the bands made of? Apple's paired bands come in fluoroelastomer-style rubber.

You're right, but I was not using a third party band. It was the ones from the original packaging caused an allergic reaction with my skin.

 

[jbachandouris]

You're right, but I was not using a third party band. It was the ones from the original packaging caused an allergic reaction with my skin.

I realize that. Just pointing out that Apple doesn't use silicone bands in the hopes that people won't be allergic. Thankfully there are other band types out there (canvas sport bands). Good luck finding one that works for you!

 

[MisterSavage]

I realize that. Just pointing out that Apple doesn't use silicone bands in the hopes that people won't be allergic. Thankfully there are other band types out there (canvas sport bands). Good luck finding one that works for you!

I did end up switching to a third party metallic band and the problem went away. I forgot all about those canvas ones.

 

[digitalexplr]

I developed a rash from the silicone Apple Watch band. Someone on here that had the same problem shared a link with me. I think it's a form of dermatitis if I remember correctly. I had to switch to a metal watch band to make it go away.

I had the same issue with the silicone watch band. Also switch to a metal band. I am allergic to a bunch of products that used in manufacturing a wide variety of products. I have an app that let's me know what I can and cannot use. Some of the ingredients are used in various silicone products.

So far, I have not had a reaction to the AirPod Pro tips.

 

[MisterSavage]

I had the same issue with the silicone watch band. Also switch to a metal band. I am allergic to a bunch of products that used in manufacturing a wide variety of products. I have an app that let's me know what I can and cannot use. Some of the ingredients are used in various silicone products.

So far, I have not had a reaction to the AirPod Pro tips.

I found the thread where you and I were discussing our allergic reaction to the watch band. What's the app you're using?

 

[digitalexplr]

I found the thread where you and I were discussing our allergic reaction to the watch band. What's the app you're using?

The app is from the American Contact Dermatitist Association. My doctor had to give me the link and sign-up info. Then I downloaded the app from the App Store.

 

[greytmom]

AirPod Pro silicone tips make my ears itch like crazy.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

Do any of you here have this allergic reaction?

Yeah.

Used my AP Pros for several months with seemingly no issues at first, I did start to notice some crustyness in the ear canals that I wasn't used to before (ugh), but I didn't pay it too much mind, I thought it was one of those wonderful things about growing older you suddenly discover (like knees not working properly anymore).

Then some kind of fluid started leaking and the skin broke in both ears where the ear tips make contact, and I got sores in both ears and I realized something was up. One ear canal became infected too, had to treat with really gross oily penicillin drops for two weeks. That was really fun!

Soo... Thanks for that, Apple. Well spent ~$350 equivalent! Can't even use them now.

 

[ChrisAmerica]

Ended up here thinking I was the only one with the crusty, leaking, irritated ears.

My issue actually started with Bose Powerbeats Pros after using them for about a year. It started on a day when I left then in/on for about 6 hours. Not only did the tips irritate my ears but the silicone on the ear hooks irritated the back and top of my ears as well. I was baffled after letting them heal for a week, trying again, and having the same reaction.

After a couple of months of using my over-ear headphones, I decided to give Airpod Pros a try (I could never use orig Airpods as they don't stay in my ears.) After a couple of days of light usage, they've given me the same reaction.

Just ordered the Comply foam tips linked above. Thanks, @fab465 !

 

[monroerr]

It does seem to be an idiosyncratic reaction that does not affect everybody. I tried the Comply and had the same problem as I did with the Apple silicone. I gave them to my spouse to try and they had absolutely no problem tolerating them. I am now using Bose over the ears NC headphones that I used to use on planes when we could still travel.

 

[ofg007]

I bought some generic memory foam tips and it seems to have solved the problem for me.

Glad it worked for you. Unfortunately, it did not for me. Basically, it reduced the allergic reaction inside the ear. However, as the loop around the ear is made from the same problematic material, the itching around the ear can back once I started using the ear pieces again.

 

[ofg007]

It does seem to be an idiosyncratic reaction that does not affect everybody. I tried the Comply and had the same problem as I did with the Apple silicone. I gave them to my spouse to try and they had absolutely no problem tolerating them. I am now using Bose over the ears NC headphones that I used to use on planes when we could still travel.

That was pretty much my experience as well. Still on a the look for an alternative earphone as the over the ears one are not too practice outdoors. Suggestions welcomed