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Apple Watch Ultra burned my skin.
- Thread starter robledorod
- Start date
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I’m trying it at the same tightness on my other wrist. I’ve had an Apple Watch since the first one came out, and I’ve never had this issue. The AW7 I took off mere moments before I strapped on the Ultra had a pretty tight stretchy band on it, which likely holds the watch just as tight as the Alpine Loop I’m using right now.
The back of the AWU seems to be a slightly different shape, but the actual irritated part of my wrist seems to fall within the lower-right of the circle outline the watch leaves on my wrist when I remove it. I am not at all closed off to the proposition that there is some serendipity to this sudden issue, but I can’t fathom wearing an Apple Watch pretty much daily for literally years, and suddenly having this brand new watch manifest some sort of hygiene issue, nor do I actually think it’s the tightness of the band having realized just now that my previous band was just as tight. It’s something with the new watch, be it a sensor issue or the shape of the sensor array being different enough to cause my wrist to chafe.
iamasmith
macrumors 6502a
I got something like this with th S0 and S3 when I first got them and figured there was some kind of residue on the ceramic backs. I make a point of giving the back a good buff against my jeans now with a new watch before wearing it and doing that occasionally after washing it and had no problems since.
I have had Apple Watches from the start, with no issues. Additionally, I use hypoallergenic soaps etc and the watch is cleaned regularly. No issues with any watch. Until that is the Ultra. Exactly the same as others on here, picture attached. The area is just to the left of where the sensor sits on the wrist, is blistered and weeping. I do believe that this is an allergic reaction to an ingredient in the watch. I purchased it on 9/11/22, went into the Apple Store in Reading, UK - they unsurprisingly had “never” seen anything like it before, but didn’t want to know as I had not purchased it through Apple themselves (even though it’s THEIR product that I have a problem with). I took it back to the store I pirchased it from and obtained a full refund today. Why?, well I also had Apple AirPods Pro’s which have given me serious symptoms in both ears (and similar symptoms to that experienced with the Ultra), and following an appointment with an ENT specialist, he recommended I never wear them again (they were scrupulously clean) and surprise surprise, Apple support didn’t want to know then either and I couldn’t obtain a refund then, hence my haste in getting a refund for a product which to me is essentially useless (but which I loved).
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alunjunkinsuk
macrumors member
earthdog
macrumors 6502
You can add me to the list too. I have had from the AW0 to the Ultra only model I have never owned is the AW8. Never had this until now. I will post a picture tomorrow. It's not bad but just a red bloch where the sensor is located. I wear mine 2 days on 1.5 hours off to charge. I have wore my previous models 24/7 as well I would were my AW7 and while it charged overnight I'd were my AW6. Never have the issue before and not complaining but something is different...
Me too. I've had every watch since the Series 2, and never had this happen. The ultra has left two red blotches on my wrist.
alunjunkinsuk
macrumors member
Just take off ; clean with a dot of hand soap on the rear . Rinse and dry
Obviously a lot of us have such wrist problems... not good ... and a lot of us this happens on left wrist, am I right ?
What I noticed when I starting to use the Ultra, was that the bigger form factor of the Watch, plus the new bands, tended to pull at the hairs around the watch, as they got trapped occasionally. It stopped after a week of wearing it.
I can definitely see a scenario where an infection in the hairsack of a pulled hair could lead to irritated skin. That said, as it is hard to see the difference for people without medical education. Go to the doctor. They might be able to shed more light on issues like this, especially skin specialist.
I can definitely see a scenario where an infection in the hairsack of a pulled hair could lead to irritated skin. That said, as it is hard to see the difference for people without medical education. Go to the doctor. They might be able to shed more light on issues like this, especially skin specialist.
Dguitarnut
macrumors regular
Come on guys….wash your wrists and watch backs daily and you won’t have problems.
Don’t apply lotions, insect repellents, perfumes and if working with chemicals wash your wrists often.
I have had this happen to me and I can always trace it to some residual substance on my wrist or watch.
A little antibiotic with a little cortisone cream mixed in will clear it up in about 3 days or so.
The proof is if you switch wrists and it does not develop on the other wrist it was chemical contamination.
Some band materials could be suspect if rash only develops where the band touches the skin and not the watch area.
FYI I am a dermatologist.
Don’t apply lotions, insect repellents, perfumes and if working with chemicals wash your wrists often.
I have had this happen to me and I can always trace it to some residual substance on my wrist or watch.
A little antibiotic with a little cortisone cream mixed in will clear it up in about 3 days or so.
The proof is if you switch wrists and it does not develop on the other wrist it was chemical contamination.
Some band materials could be suspect if rash only develops where the band touches the skin and not the watch area.
FYI I am a dermatologist.
I appreciate this comment. But would like to point out, I have never had an issue on any Apple Watch, even with the Ultra. My wife had a S4 for years then all of a sudden had a reaction. She did not start using any new skin products.
Some people may have reactions to chemicals trapped on the back of the watch, or skin (you are a perfect example). But there are others that it is something else. Not sure yet what it is for my wife, but it definitely isn't simply needing to be cleaned.
Nhwhazup
macrumors 68040
My daughter had the tingling/burning sensation with the Apple 7 watch. Shr tried multiple different bands that didn’t help. She only experienced this with the watch turned on. I told her to wear it with the watch turned off to determine if it was the physical watch or something with the electronics. She had no issues when she wore it for a day but turned off. Turned it back on and the tingling/burning again which resulted in red burn marks on her wrist. She returned it.
Nhwhazup
macrumors 68040
Yes it was. Prior to trying the AW she had one of the cheaper Fitbits. She really wanted the Apple Watch due to all the features. She ended up with the Fitbit watch. She has no issues with that one
Dang, I never heard of an AW problem to that extent. Luckily she was able to return it.
earthdog
macrumors 6502
SteveJawbs
macrumors regular
Nhwhazup
macrumors 68040
She noticed the problem right off and returned it within the 14 day window.
Jackbequickly
Suspended
These are not burns. They are skin irritations.
Hustler
macrumors 6502
I’ve worn a watch since the 0. I wear it to work as my tool watch. I work on cars. Used oil, brake dust, brake cleaner…you name it, it gets it. Sure it gets dirty. But I use it often at work and deal with cleaning it as needed.
I got the ultra on day 1 and noticed with the longer battery life I could do sleep tracking (after it was washed up LOL). Awesome! By after a week or so noticed a light rash/burn on my skin under the sensor.
I hydrocortisone’d the spot, stopped wearing it for a few days until the spot went away and then wore the watch just during the day noticing no more spot.
I tried sleep tracking a couple weeks later, came back!
Same thing, waited a few days, cleared up, and now since I’ve just worn it up until bedtime, the burn spot hasn’t reappeared.
I took it as either it searching too hard for a reading when I’m sleeping on a sensor, or my skin just having enough of the sensor altogether and then rashing up.
Either way, hasn’t come back since I stopped sleep tracking.
Note, the irritation only happened right under the sensor, not around the band, and never happened before with my years of watch 0,1,3,or 5 iterations. The ultra was the first time I’ve sleep tracked though.
I got the ultra on day 1 and noticed with the longer battery life I could do sleep tracking (after it was washed up LOL). Awesome! By after a week or so noticed a light rash/burn on my skin under the sensor.
I hydrocortisone’d the spot, stopped wearing it for a few days until the spot went away and then wore the watch just during the day noticing no more spot.
I tried sleep tracking a couple weeks later, came back!
Same thing, waited a few days, cleared up, and now since I’ve just worn it up until bedtime, the burn spot hasn’t reappeared.
I took it as either it searching too hard for a reading when I’m sleeping on a sensor, or my skin just having enough of the sensor altogether and then rashing up.
Either way, hasn’t come back since I stopped sleep tracking.
Note, the irritation only happened right under the sensor, not around the band, and never happened before with my years of watch 0,1,3,or 5 iterations. The ultra was the first time I’ve sleep tracked though.
bruinsrme
macrumors 604
This is why I mentioned soap. Some of the soaps used in soap dispensers, anti bacterial soaps as well as deodorant contain some rather harsh chemicals.
Cotypubby
macrumors 6502a
Most people are right handed so they wear their watch on the left…
I tried to read through quite a bit of responses on here and only those that have explained the “burn” feeling such as myself, aren’t kidding.
As a random bit of scientific, “process of elimination”… those that have had the feeling of some sort of burn, what color is your hair and how fair complected are you?
I have worn an Apple Watch since the Series 2 (every series owned has been aluminum) and have never experienced this feeling beneath the wrist. Now, before someone says, “Maybe you’re allergic to titanium!?” The answer is no. I have zero allergies to most known elements (except maybe plutonium :insert nerdy radioactive joke here🙂
I personally feel as though this is a “flash burn” (a burn caused by intense light) or basically a concentrated sunburn by the beams that monitor your BP, Heart rate, etc.
Not sure about the frequency and strength of pulses in the pervious series in comparison to the much newer models with updated firmwares and possibly stronger lights, but this is what my wrist looks like currently. Please keep in mind, I CONSTANTLY wear my Apple Watch Ultra (Ultra Orange Alpine Band) since purchased, only take it off to top off the charge and to charge it while I shower (this negates the possibility of irritants between the skin and the ceramic and sapphire crystal back) I also make sure that my wrist is completely dry before putting the Watch back on.
Additionally, I know many have mentioned hand wash being the culprit and I can also remove this from the possible causes as I never get the watch wet when washing my hands (When I wash my hands, I don’t make it a habit of washing my wrists also; I’m not a surgeon 🤦♂️)
I’m a new member so I’ll do my best to keep up-to-date on this particular thread as I am very curious as to why this is happening.
I have turned off all the monitoring sensors (12/27/2022 @ 10:45pm) to see if this helps, but I will continue to wear the watch as I normally do to rule certain possible irritants out.
As a random bit of scientific, “process of elimination”… those that have had the feeling of some sort of burn, what color is your hair and how fair complected are you?
I have worn an Apple Watch since the Series 2 (every series owned has been aluminum) and have never experienced this feeling beneath the wrist. Now, before someone says, “Maybe you’re allergic to titanium!?” The answer is no. I have zero allergies to most known elements (except maybe plutonium :insert nerdy radioactive joke here🙂
I personally feel as though this is a “flash burn” (a burn caused by intense light) or basically a concentrated sunburn by the beams that monitor your BP, Heart rate, etc.
Not sure about the frequency and strength of pulses in the pervious series in comparison to the much newer models with updated firmwares and possibly stronger lights, but this is what my wrist looks like currently. Please keep in mind, I CONSTANTLY wear my Apple Watch Ultra (Ultra Orange Alpine Band) since purchased, only take it off to top off the charge and to charge it while I shower (this negates the possibility of irritants between the skin and the ceramic and sapphire crystal back) I also make sure that my wrist is completely dry before putting the Watch back on.
Additionally, I know many have mentioned hand wash being the culprit and I can also remove this from the possible causes as I never get the watch wet when washing my hands (When I wash my hands, I don’t make it a habit of washing my wrists also; I’m not a surgeon 🤦♂️)
I’m a new member so I’ll do my best to keep up-to-date on this particular thread as I am very curious as to why this is happening.
I have turned off all the monitoring sensors (12/27/2022 @ 10:45pm) to see if this helps, but I will continue to wear the watch as I normally do to rule certain possible irritants out.
