Do all Apple Watches after 3 risk burning your skin?

[cosmichobo]

I have not personally experienced this issue, but my wife did with a non- Apple smart watch. (Garmin)

I have however worn a number of watches throughout my life, and never, ever had an issue with any kind of dermatitis under the watch band or back. I have not heard of people having these kinds of "burns" with non-Smart watches that have sensors on the underside that are doing 'something' to your wrist.

The fact that "so many" (we're not talking 5, 10, 20..) people experience these "burns" suggests strongly this is a smart watch problem, caused in some way by the sensors, not just a reaction to the metal itself, but - because of the sensors.

No amount of "you are dirty" or "you're reacting to the metal" etc etc will convince me otherwise. My wife uses the Apple Watch 3 without any issue, and as per my original question, I was curious whether the higher generations that use more sophisticated sensors do cause issues for (some) people, and the result to that is a very resounding YES.

Am I saying Apple should be sued? No. Am I asking for compensation? No. Am I accusing Apple of developing some kind of biological experiment against the human race? No, I just wanted to know if I could upgrade my wife's watch to a newer model, at not insignificant expense, given her experience with the Garmin.

Apparently the SE 2 model should be a safe option as it uses similar sensors to the 3.

 

[Night Spring]

The fact that "so many" (we're not talking 5, 10, 20..) people experience these "burns"

You are right that there are some number of people who experience these "burns." But the number hasn't been significant enough for it to cause an uproar such as "bend gate" or "antenna gate." And having been on MacRumors and following posts about the Apple watch ever since the original watch came out, my personal impression is that I used to see these "burn" stories more frequently with earlier models than more recent ones.

My point is that if your wife has no issues with the Apple watch 3, chances are good that she will have no issues with the more recent models.

 

[NervousFish2]

since this seems to happen somewhat frequently to you - have you ever consulted with a dermatologist on this specific issue?


How so? and which sensor?
I have not noticed anything on my U2 ...

It might not be effecting you. You may have different skin. And I have spoken to a dermatologist about dermatitis before, but not about this specific issue. I think would be pointless to do so as I am busy these days, and I am confident I know what the problem is.

 

[johnb300m]

With some of the latest posts, it got me thinking......do we think there might be some kind of "allergic reaction" to the light emitted from the HR sensors?
Especially with repeated posts about the supposed "singed" spots being right under the sensors?

 

[3Rock]

No issues here with burn. I have the ultra 2. Never had any problems with the series 5 or the series 7.

 

[Howard2k]

With some of the latest posts, it got me thinking......do we think there might be some kind of "allergic reaction" to the light emitted from the HR sensors?
Especially with repeated posts about the supposed "singed" spots being right under the sensors?

No

 

[wilderkun]

G'day,

My wife used to have a Garmin, which uses electric sensors for heart rate etc, and it burned her wrist.

When I got her an Apple Watch, I specifically went for a 3, because it uses optical sensors instead of electric.

Unfortunately the battery now needs replacing, and for $129 AU (battery replacement via Apple), I could buy a 2nd hand 4th gen watch instead.

Looking online... And on this forum... I see plenty saying that Apple Watches have burned their wrists.

Does anyone know - are some models better than others? Less risky for burns?

(Yes, I appreciate that most people don't experience burns... but given my wife has in the past, we're working on the idea that it's her skin at fault... so potentially would have the same reaction with Apple's watches that use electricity..

Thanks

cosmic

What’s going on is a reaction of not thoroughly cleaning the watch along with sensitive skin. There’s not enough power coming through the sensors to cause an electrical burn. There could potentially be an allergic reaction to the back, though that’s very rare, if not possible because they use ceramics and glass instead of metal.
I received a Fitbit for a medical study, and had a very bad reaction on my wrist, thought there would even be scars, but it eventually went away. I’ve never had a reaction like that on my Apple Watch, and I’ve worn it pretty much 24/7 for 10 years

 

[cosmichobo]

With some of the latest posts, it got me thinking......do we think there might be some kind of "allergic reaction" to the light emitted from the HR sensors?
Especially with repeated posts about the supposed "singed" spots being right under the sensors?

It's not an impossible idea. My wife goes in the sun for the day without sunscreen and comes out a lovely olive colour. I go in the sun for 5 minutes and am bright red, peeling the next day.

I have severe atopic dermatitis. My skin is not like "normal" skin - it's thinner, and well - "hole-e-er". (Imagine normal skin as 100gsm printer paper, but my skin as tissue paper.) It's a genetic thing. So, it's clear that not everyone has the same skin.

Weirdly though - I didn't have issues with my wife's Garmin watch, but it "burnt" her skin. It didn't use light sensors - it used "electric".

 

[cosmichobo]

What’s going on is a reaction of not thoroughly cleaning the watch along with sensitive skin. There’s not enough power coming through the sensors to cause an electrical burn. There could potentially be an allergic reaction to the back, though that’s very rare, if not possible because they use ceramics and glass instead of metal.
I received a Fitbit for a medical study, and had a very bad reaction on my wrist, thought there would even be scars, but it eventually went away. I’ve never had a reaction like that on my Apple Watch, and I’ve worn it pretty much 24/7 for 10 years

The reason many of us feel it is related to the sensors is the 'burn' pattern. It's not the whole back of the watch, which would suggest it's the metal, or bacteria on the metal, or bacteria on the skin reacting to the metal, or metalitis. It's in the same pattern as the sensors. That's why some of us keep banging on about the sensors...

 

[metman888]

I have not personally experienced this issue, but my wife did with a non- Apple smart watch. (Garmin)

I have however worn a number of watches throughout my life, and never, ever had an issue with any kind of dermatitis under the watch band or back. I have not heard of people having these kinds of "burns" with non-Smart watches that have sensors on the underside that are doing 'something' to your wrist.

The fact that "so many" (we're not talking 5, 10, 20..) people experience these "burns" suggests strongly this is a smart watch problem, caused in some way by the sensors, not just a reaction to the metal itself, but - because of the sensors.

No amount of "you are dirty" or "you're reacting to the metal" etc etc will convince me otherwise. My wife uses the Apple Watch 3 without any issue, and as per my original question, I was curious whether the higher generations that use more sophisticated sensors do cause issues for (some) people, and the result to that is a very resounding YES.

Am I saying Apple should be sued? No. Am I asking for compensation? No. Am I accusing Apple of developing some kind of biological experiment against the human race? No, I just wanted to know if I could upgrade my wife's watch to a newer model, at not insignificant expense, given her experience with the Garmin.

Apparently the SE 2 model should be a safe option as it uses similar sensors to the 3.

I have heard of people getting these marks with non smart watches, in fact I used to suffer with them many years ago. It's contact dermatitis, the pictures look exactly the same as I used to get and it was long before smart watches existed. In my case wearing watches a little more loose and making sure both my arm and watch are clean solved the issue. I'm a member on quite a few watch sites and you see posts about this occasionally.

I also regularly wear an Apple Watch Ultra now and have zero issues.

Wearing a watch a little too tight provides a perfect environment for bacteria to grow as the sweat etc can collect and no air/light gets to that part of your arm. Many types of bacteria love dark, damp airless environments. The reason the marks appear where the sensor is, is because thats the part of the watch thats pushed hardest into your arm and therefore where the bacteria is allowed to grow. I think you see more reports of these marks with smart watches is because people tend to be more active when wearing them, therefore more sweat, dirt and bacteria. Plus the heart rate sensors work best when the watch is snug.

Nobody's suggesting your wife has poor hygiene either, the reason why some suffer and some don't is simply because some people are more sensitive to the bacteria. I wouldn't consider myself as having sensitive skin, I don't have any issues with soaps, washing powder or fragrances for example but still I've had issues with these marks in the past

As for why your wife had issues with the Garmin, that could simply be down to the size, weight and shape of the watch and the way it fits on her wrist. Thinking about it my wife occasionally gets similar marks but not where the back of the watch rests but on the side of her wrist where the rubber strap fits closest.

 

[Jackbequickly]

The reason many of us feel it is related to the sensors is the 'burn' pattern. It's not the whole back of the watch, which would suggest it's the metal, or bacteria on the metal, or bacteria on the skin reacting to the metal, or metalitis. It's in the same pattern as the sensors. That's why some of us keep banging on about the sensors...

Post an image of the rash pattern matching the sensors!

 

[BenGoren]

It's not an impossible idea. My wife goes in the sun for the day without sunscreen and comes out a lovely olive colour. I go in the sun for 5 minutes and am bright red, peeling the next day.

I have severe atopic dermatitis. My skin is not like "normal" skin - it's thinner, and well - "hole-e-er". (Imagine normal skin as 100gsm printer paper, but my skin as tissue paper.) It's a genetic thing. So, it's clear that not everyone has the same skin.

Weirdly though - I didn't have issues with my wife's Garmin watch, but it "burnt" her skin. It didn't use light sensors - it used "electric".

The Sun is an extremely energetic broadband electromagnetic energy source. Depending on atmospheric conditions, its high-energy high-intensity ultraviolet light can cause burning. Melanin (what makes skin dark) has a protective effect against UV radiation, which is why those deficient in melanin burn more readily than those with an abundance. Do note, though, that UV radiation can cause cellular damage even in those with the darkest of skin; to protect against cancer, dermatologists recommend that everybody regardless of skin color should wear sunscreen as indicated by UV index and expected duration of exposure.

A smartwatch does not generate any UV light at all. Zero, zip, nada, none. It’s all visible and infrared — both of which are significantly less energetic than ultraviolet light.

It is physically impossible for the wavelengths of radiation produced by a smartwatch to cause burns at anything less than brightness intensities which would blind you much, much faster than your blink reflex. The sensors on the smartwatch, in stark contrast, aren’t even bright enough to serve as a nightlight.

As an analogy … a freight train moving at a walking pace can kill you if you don’t get out of the way. So can a grain of sand if it’s moving a million miles an hour. But the smartwatch is like being hit with a grain of sand at a walking pace — you’re not even going to be aware of it.

The wounds on your wrist are real. They’re caused by the watch. But not by the sensors. It’s the same contact dermatitis that has caused the same wounds on wrists since humans started wearing bracelets tens of thousands of years ago.

In ancient history, I’m sure some attributed the wounds to magical powers associated with the bracelets. They were inhabited by evil spirits or the like. Today’s smartwatches have exactly as many evil spirits as ancient bracelets, even though they cause just as many rashes.

Cheers,

b&

 

[johnb300m]

In ancient history, I’m sure some attributed the wounds to magical powers associated with the bracelets. They were inhabited by evil spirits or the like. Today’s smartwatches have exactly as many evil spirits as ancient bracelets, even though they cause just as many rashes.

We are so SO close to going back to this......🤪