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claretok

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 20, 2015
4
0
Sydney, Australia
So I am a huge Apple product fan.. Have heaps of the products.

Ordered the Apple Watch sports in Aluminium with a blue band the day orders opened and it arrived 8am on 23 April 2015!! Boy was I excited.

Well about 8 weeks ago after wearing my watch, pretty much every day since I got it, I developed what I call a burn on my wrist just underneath the where the LED sensors sit. It stung a lot and was really itchy and if I put the watch back on it really hurt.

So I have been on the phone on and off with Apple who wanted to capture the watch for testing for about 5-6 weeks now. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I received a phone call from them last night saying that they believe it is a skin irritation and don't recommend I wear the watch at all and offered a full refund.

I am devastated I can no longer be in-sync with my Apple gear :(
 

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Oh wow, that looks really painful.

Can you tolerate the steel case/ceramic back? Maybe they'll give you a credit to apply to the purchase of an SS.


I really don't know what is causing the rash... I'm pretty sure it's not the band... It seems to be under the ceramic back with dots on the skin where the led sensors sit... I'm not allergic to aluminium.. I have worn that metal before.

Who knows... didn't really want to shell out for the SS model.... we will see ;)
 
From its position on your wrist, it does look like the back itself is causing some kind of reaction, not the band.

The sport back doesn't have the ceramic coating, it's just the composite material. But that should be pretty hypoallergenic, it's basically plastic.

Very, very unusual.
 
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I really don't know what is causing the rash... I'm pretty sure it's not the band... It seems to be under the ceramic back with dots on the skin where the led sensors sit... I'm not allergic to aluminium.. I have worn that metal before.

Who knows... didn't really want to shell out for the SS model.... we will see ;)
You haven't likely worn APPLE's aluminum before. It's a special alloy they created with their own metallurgists, I thought? So you could be reacting to some trace element within the alloy.

I would wait for it to heal and then try a stainless steel model for 13 days...and then return it if you are still getting rashes.
 
You haven't likely worn APPLE's aluminum before. It's a special alloy they created with their own metallurgists, I thought? So you could be reacting to some trace element within the alloy.

I would wait for it to heal and then try a stainless steel model for 13 days...and then return it if you are still getting rashes.

Edit: yup, from the apple website: "For Apple Watch, we created a new alloy of 7000 Series aluminum that’s 60 percent stronger than standard alloys. "
 
No matter what is causing the rash it is very clear the sport model is not for you. It is rare but not unheard of for people to be ultra sensitive to certain materials. If you still want the watch badly, I would try the SS model.
 
So I am a huge Apple product fan.. Have heaps of the products.

Ordered the Apple Watch sports in Aluminium with a blue band the day orders opened and it arrived 8am on 23 April 2015!! Boy was I excited.

Well about 8 weeks ago after wearing my watch, pretty much every day since I got it, I developed what I call a burn on my wrist just underneath the where the LED sensors sit. It stung a lot and was really itchy and if I put the watch back on it really hurt.

So I have been on the phone on and off with Apple who wanted to capture the watch for testing for about 5-6 weeks now. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I received a phone call from them last night saying that they believe it is a skin irritation and don't recommend I wear the watch at all and offered a full refund.

I am devastated I can no longer be in-sync with my Apple gear :(

I read a post on here just like this the other day. The only difference is that instead of a refund, they apologetically offered to replace the watch with a stainless steel one of his choice for free. Turns out they reckon it was due to the alloy containing too much nickel and that it turns out he had a nickel allergy which he never realised he had. Heres the post:

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-reaction-apple-handled-it-perfectly.1907964/
 
I read a post on here just like this the other day. The only difference is that instead of a refund, they apologetically offered to replace the watch with a stainless steel one of his choice for free. Turns out they reckon it was due to the alloy containing too much nickel and that it turns out he had a nickel allergy which he never realised he had. Heres the post:

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-reaction-apple-handled-it-perfectly.1907964/

It's not that he had a nickel allergy which he never realized he had. He was able to tolerate the Space Gray watch case (which has nickel) and had a different watch that contains nickel. The issue was the pin in the Sport band had an excessive amount of nickel. An excessive amount of anything can trigger an allergic reaction in individuals who are normally not allergic. Heck, it doesn't even have to be an allergic reaction. Water consumed in a large enough quantity can kill you.
 
It's not that he had a nickel allergy which he never realized he had. He was able to tolerate the Space Gray watch case (which has nickel) and had a different watch that contains nickel. The issue was the pin in the Sport band had an excessive amount of nickel. An excessive amount of anything can trigger an allergic reaction in individuals who are normally not allergic. Heck, it doesn't even have to be an allergic reaction. Water consumed in a large enough quantity can kill you.

Ah right, that makes more sense as to why apple want to 'capture' these affected watches. Obviously a bad batch. Still, my main intention to link to this article was to make the op aware that this guy got a free upgrade to a stainless steel. Hopefully OP can do the same :)
 
Ah right, that makes more sense as to why apple want to 'capture' these affected watches. Obviously a bad batch. Still, my main intention to link to this article was to make the op aware that this guy got a free upgrade to a stainless steel. Hopefully OP can do the same :)

But it's two different situations. It's not Apple's fault that individuals are hypersensitive to certain materials (especially composite plastic) that 99% of the population isn't allergic to. It's, however, Apple's fault that the defective band had an abnormal amount of nickel in it, which is what induced them compensate the OP of that thread with a free upgrade.

Apple isn't going to provide a free upgrade on a regular basis to individuals who are hypersensitive to trace amounts of nickel, etc. Trying to make right on a defective product is entirely a different matter.
 
But it's two different situations. It's not Apple's fault that individuals are hypersensitive to certain materials (especially composite plastic) that 99% of the population isn't allergic to. It's, however, Apple's fault that the defective band had an abnormal amount of nickel in it, which is what induced them compensate the OP of that thread with a free upgrade.

Apple isn't going to provide a free upgrade on a regular basis to individuals who are hypersensitive to trace amounts of nickel, etc. Trying to make right on a defective product is entirely a different matter.

Ok, it's not the exact same situation. I stand corrected.
 
You should try the Stainless Steel with Link or Leather strap and hope it was the Alu that caused the rash. Sorry to hear about your problem.

At least your not blaming Apple for the rash. As a watch collector for many years I have heard others complaining (although rare) about rash with certain materials from a variety of watch brands.

Hope the Stainless Steel Apple Watch with ceramic back works out for you If you decide to go that way.
 
So I am a huge Apple product fan.. Have heaps of the products.

Ordered the Apple Watch sports in Aluminium with a blue band the day orders opened and it arrived 8am on 23 April 2015!! Boy was I excited.

Well about 8 weeks ago after wearing my watch, pretty much every day since I got it, I developed what I call a burn on my wrist just underneath the where the LED sensors sit. It stung a lot and was really itchy and if I put the watch back on it really hurt.

So I have been on the phone on and off with Apple who wanted to capture the watch for testing for about 5-6 weeks now. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I received a phone call from them last night saying that they believe it is a skin irritation and don't recommend I wear the watch at all and offered a full refund.

I am devastated I can no longer be in-sync with my Apple gear :(

My wife got blisters on her wrist just where the sensors are. I washed the backside with luke warm water and mild soap, rubbed it good and rinsed it of. Problem solved.
 
I'm sure Apple asked, but did you clean your watch and band at least every night with a clean damp cloth? Sometimes I will start to feel a slight irritation under the watch, sometimes from my bands, and will move the watch on my wrist and then make a point to clean the surfaces and my arm. I have noticed that sometimes my watch back seems stuck to my wrist due to perspiration or such. It's amazing how the back will start to show a film on it from wearing it, just in one day. I have the SS model BTW so skin oils show up easily on the shiny surface. As long as I keep it clean, I haven't had any issues really. That reaction you had really looked bad, and having had my watch for several months now, I can understand feeling bad about not having one to wear. I would have a hard time giving up my watch at this point.

If you can swing the expense for the SS version with the ceramic back, I'd say give it a try since the back is different and if you need to return it do so within the return window. At least you will know if you can wear one. It may be your body chemistry/oils are reacting to the composition of the aluminum's watch back or just that your wrist isn't getting enough air and bacteria is flourishing underneath there. Good luck and do report back if you go that route.

BTW did you ask Apple if they thought the SS version with the ceramic back might be worth a try?
 
I'm sorry to hear that. Did you have a doctor check it out?

Contact dermatitis can be caused by many different things and can take on many different forms. Some people have sensitive skin and you don't have to be allergic to the materials of the watch to develop a rash. Some people will develop rashes wearing almost anything on their wrist that gets dirty, sweaty and stays on for 15 hours a day or more.

As others have suggested, I would focus on keeping the watch clean and dry. Take it off after sweating, wash it and your wrist, and wait before putting it back on. Don't apply any lotions to your wrist. Consider switching it to the other wrist for awhile. I wouldn't try it again with the same wrist, because you might find that the rash could still be there even when it isn't visible. Try the other wrist while keeping things clean and dry.

Sean
 
You haven't likely worn APPLE's aluminum before. It's a special alloy they created with their own metallurgists, I thought? So you could be reacting to some trace element within the alloy.

I would wait for it to heal and then try a stainless steel model for 13 days...and then return it if you are still getting rashes.

there are several kind of aluminium alloys, apple chose to use 7xxx series that is based on zinc alloy. But who knows what else they added there. Probably nickel because so many people get skin problems.

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204665
 
I'm sure Apple asked, but did you clean your watch and band at least every night with a clean damp cloth?
FWIW, I do not clean my watch daily and I've yet to run into any irritation issues. Sounds like the OP has a sensitivity to the materials of the watch. My wife has an issue with certain gold alloys and it bothers her wearing certain ear rings. Washing won't help if its an allergic reaction
 
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FWIW, I do not clean my watch daily and I've yet to run into any irritation issues. Sounds like the OP has a sensitivity to the materials of the watch. My wife has an issue with certain gold alloys and it bothers her wearing certain ear rings. Washing won't help if its an allergic reaction
But it depends on what IS irritating the OP. It could be a material in the :apple:Watch or it could be the buildup of salts and minerals from normal sweating or it could be.... We are not in a position to diagnose this.

The OP can eliminate the possibility salts and minerals irritation by simply washing the :apple:Watch everyday. If this doesn't work then a visit to an Allergist might be the nest step to see if it is a medical allergy.
 
But it depends on what IS irritating the OP.
I agree, and Fitbit did the same thing with a fitness band a year ago (or so), but in the end it most likely the material being used that was the source of the irritation. Washing it will remove that one variable from the equation though I think moving up to a SS maybe the solution.
 
OP, you wore it for 8 weeks before you got a reaction right? An allergy would have been in the first week.

Don't worry, swap the watch for 1/2 week to a week on the other wrist and use some moisturer on your wrist, it's temp and will go away, probably from sweat, heat rash etc. I occasionally get the same with the variety of watches I own, and recently got one with my sports band. Skin just needs a temp rest.
 
OP, you wore it for 8 weeks before you got a reaction right? An allergy would have been in the first week.

Don't worry, swap the watch for 1/2 week to a week on the other wrist and use some moisturer on your wrist, it's temp and will go away, probably from sweat, heat rash etc. I occasionally get the same with the variety of watches I own, and recently got one with my sports band. Skin just needs a temp rest.
OP is already in the process of returning it.
 
OP, you wore it for 8 weeks before you got a reaction right? An allergy would have been in the first week
Not necessairly, as mentioned my wife has an issue with certain alloys, it did not show up immediately, but after a period of time from wearing certain earrings. Now the reaction is fairly quick but when she developed the sensitivity it was not immediate.
 
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