Ah, I see. Well, I think this information applies to any such case. These reactions occur often, with a wide variety of materials. It is always best to seek professional help.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
My Apple Watch Series 6 Band burned me?
- Thread starter Zethiah
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Ah, I see. Well, I think this information applies to any such case. These reactions occur often, with a wide variety of materials. It is always best to seek professional help.
In my Panerai Watch days I had several custom made leather straps bought over the years. I would break out after one day like the op did every time. A little cortisone ointment would clear it up in less than a week. If it was the branded Panerai strap which had a hypoallergenic coating or synthetic there was no problem. Natural leather belts break out my overhanging beer belly where it touches the leather. Latex allergies are famous for the same reactions.
You also could have washed your hands with a soap or solution for Covid precautions and that got under your strap and caused the irritation while the rest was washed off.
We are in such a sue happy society....and we all pay for that one way or another when most of the time it was carelessness or lack of common sense of the user.
I’m sure somewhere Apple will have a disclosure about if you have any allergies to whatever it is you are buying to NOT buy it.
You also could have washed your hands with a soap or solution for Covid precautions and that got under your strap and caused the irritation while the rest was washed off.
We are in such a sue happy society....and we all pay for that one way or another when most of the time it was carelessness or lack of common sense of the user.
I’m sure somewhere Apple will have a disclosure about if you have any allergies to whatever it is you are buying to NOT buy it.
Careful with this suggestion. I’m not a lawyer/attorney, but from what I’ve read and heard about this, you can end up in a bad legal position if you record conversations without informing the other party and getting their consent prior.
@Zethiah That is indeed an unacceptable response from Apple support, and I say such as a person with high patience and plenty of sympathy for those in the support, service positions.
She went through the so-called patch testing and was then given a list of chemically named ingredients up to ten syllables long... and partial cross reference of products having those ingredients. What a hassle!
Oh...and yes coconut oil has helped her!
The laws on recording conversations vary from state to state. If the party that was spoken to was in California, disclosure that the call was being recorded would be necessary and all parties would need to provide consent.
It depends on the state if we’re talking about the U.S. Most states only require one party consent.
Having nothing to do with the rest of the discussion... In a two-party conversation, how can one person "consent?" That's the functional equivalent of not requiring consent at all. One person "consents" by recording the conversation, the other person doesn't have to be notified? There's no consent there. What one-party consent might cover is when a third party is making the recording and that party obtains consent from one of the two participants - still not satisfying from a personal privacy standpoint (eg. employer records all conversations, employee consents to the recording, the other participant is unaware).
Nope. In a call between two people only one needs to consent. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_call_recording_laws#United_States
I didn't have as bad of a reaction as you but I had something similar happen to me. I didn't contact support.
Here's the post I made about it: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/allergic.2223133/post-28210259
Here's the post I made about it: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/allergic.2223133/post-28210259
Wow, that looked like a gnarly blister. I’m really glad Apple took care of this for you. How long did it take to fully heal?
Yikes! That does sound like a lot of work. Glad to know coconut oil helped, I started using it today.
Sorry you’re going through this, but thank you for posting! I am glad I am not alone. I’ve never had a skin reaction to anything before. I also asked Apple Support if the materials used in the sport band had changed and they told me no.
Thank you for your reply! I was planning on calling a primary care provider first thing Monday morning. Do you think I should just contact a dermatologist instead? I don’t have insurance, so I know out of pocket a visit with a PCP would be less expensive than with a specialist...
This is my wrist 16 days after. I have not put the watch back on at all.
Attachments
Sorry you're going through this. I also have the red sport band and fortunately haven't had any such issues.
Update:
Just wanted to give you guys an update tonight. Apple Support called me earlier today. The Senior Advisor said they don’t have an update for me and will call me back on Tuesday. I guess at least he called me back, unlike the previous two advisors.
I’ll be calling some primary care providers on Monday morning to see if I can make an appointment. Still debating on whether I should go straight to a Dermatologist instead.
My skin feels a little tender, and still itchy, but it has not felt painful today. It looks better than it did 16 days ago, but the mark is still there, and I am worried of it scarring.
Just to let you all know, the first Senior Advisor I spoke with on 10/10/20 asked me a lot of questions in regards to allergies and products I use.
• I’ve never had any skin allergies.
• I don’t have asthma.
• I didn’t change any skin/hair/soap products recently.
I have been using Apple Watches with Sport bands for over four years and never had an issue like this. I work from home, I hardly ever sweat, my routine has not changed. I went from wearing my aluminum Apple Watch S4 with a black sport band, to wearing the S6 with the red sport band on September 18. The only difference in the last month was the new watch and new sport band.
I called Apple Support a week ago because the irritation was not going away. When the Senior Advisor told me he would send me a new woven nylon band, I felt like I was going to be taken care of. When I called him back on Wednesday, he pretty much ghosted me, and that’s when the next senior advisor told me NOT to go to the doctor. They also told me they would not be sending me a new band like the first person said, because Apple is conducting an investigation.
I am irritated because I thought Apple Support would help somehow, but they have made this entire experience that much worse. I work in a medical contact center, and I coordinate care for Veterans between the VA and community providers. My literal job is to help Veterans get the medical care they need ASAP. The customer service I have received this week from Apple has been some of the worst. And I also have compassion for those people that work in call centers because I know what it’s like.
To make things even more complicated, my watch’s return window with Best Buy ends tomorrow. I explained this to the last senior advisor I spoke with and it did not phase him. The only thing he could say was that the investigation has not ended, even though they only had 5 business days to complete the investigation and we are past the 5 business days, so he’ll call me back on Tuesday.
Apple Support has set false expectations, advised me not to see a physician, and failed to follow up. If I dropped the ball like Apple has, at my job- it could cost someone their surgery or worse. So yeah, I’m a little peeved. Sorry y’all had to read my rant lol.
[automerge]1602995541[/automerge]
Just wanted to give you guys an update tonight. Apple Support called me earlier today. The Senior Advisor said they don’t have an update for me and will call me back on Tuesday. I guess at least he called me back, unlike the previous two advisors.
I’ll be calling some primary care providers on Monday morning to see if I can make an appointment. Still debating on whether I should go straight to a Dermatologist instead.
My skin feels a little tender, and still itchy, but it has not felt painful today. It looks better than it did 16 days ago, but the mark is still there, and I am worried of it scarring.
Just to let you all know, the first Senior Advisor I spoke with on 10/10/20 asked me a lot of questions in regards to allergies and products I use.
• I’ve never had any skin allergies.
• I don’t have asthma.
• I didn’t change any skin/hair/soap products recently.
I have been using Apple Watches with Sport bands for over four years and never had an issue like this. I work from home, I hardly ever sweat, my routine has not changed. I went from wearing my aluminum Apple Watch S4 with a black sport band, to wearing the S6 with the red sport band on September 18. The only difference in the last month was the new watch and new sport band.
I called Apple Support a week ago because the irritation was not going away. When the Senior Advisor told me he would send me a new woven nylon band, I felt like I was going to be taken care of. When I called him back on Wednesday, he pretty much ghosted me, and that’s when the next senior advisor told me NOT to go to the doctor. They also told me they would not be sending me a new band like the first person said, because Apple is conducting an investigation.
I am irritated because I thought Apple Support would help somehow, but they have made this entire experience that much worse. I work in a medical contact center, and I coordinate care for Veterans between the VA and community providers. My literal job is to help Veterans get the medical care they need ASAP. The customer service I have received this week from Apple has been some of the worst. And I also have compassion for those people that work in call centers because I know what it’s like.
To make things even more complicated, my watch’s return window with Best Buy ends tomorrow. I explained this to the last senior advisor I spoke with and it did not phase him. The only thing he could say was that the investigation has not ended, even though they only had 5 business days to complete the investigation and we are past the 5 business days, so he’ll call me back on Tuesday.
Apple Support has set false expectations, advised me not to see a physician, and failed to follow up. If I dropped the ball like Apple has, at my job- it could cost someone their surgery or worse. So yeah, I’m a little peeved. Sorry y’all had to read my rant lol.
[automerge]1602995541[/automerge]
It’s such a nice color, I wish I could wear it again! Lol
I think you can see your PCP first. They will probably tell you right away, if they can handle it. I don‘t know, how fast you can get an appointment at the dermatologist then. I live in Germany, things are different here. Usually allergic dermatitis does not leave scarring, however a definite diagnosis cannot be made from pictures alone. If it is easier for you, see your PCP. Just have some professional look at it in person and make a definite diagnosis. 👍🏻
I suggest you write to tcook@apple.com and just share what you have told us here.
Basically, Apple support has dropped the ball on this - they should be doing a lot more than they have, including paying for you to see a doctor.
Worst that can happen is that your case gets resolved more quickly, best is that they cover your cost to see a doctor, expedite the new band, offer a full refund... etc. - write to them as above, it will get escalated through their public/investor relations team and get taken care of.
edit: btw, this also does Apple a favor... clearly there is some sort of QC issue. I suspect because they switched production to new factories (Vietnam), there is some change of suppliers and raw materials used and Apple probably doesn't even know...
Basically, Apple support has dropped the ball on this - they should be doing a lot more than they have, including paying for you to see a doctor.
Worst that can happen is that your case gets resolved more quickly, best is that they cover your cost to see a doctor, expedite the new band, offer a full refund... etc. - write to them as above, it will get escalated through their public/investor relations team and get taken care of.
edit: btw, this also does Apple a favor... clearly there is some sort of QC issue. I suspect because they switched production to new factories (Vietnam), there is some change of suppliers and raw materials used and Apple probably doesn't even know...
That blister wasn't me. I was linking to a couple of threads to show that other people were having similar issues.
A possible allergic reaction to an AW band and the resulting response from the Apple support team.
OP has documented it quite well in the first post of the thread.
What else could it be about? 🧐
Thanks for the suggestion, I did a quick google search and it looks like other people have had better luck getting their issues resolved when they e-mail him. I’ll probably end up e-mailing him in the next couple of days.
And I did not know they had switched production to some new factories in Vietnam. That could very well be it. Thanks for all the info!
OP,
Stop procrastinating and get to the dermatologist ASAP. You should have already have done that. The longer your wait, the harder it will be for the doctor to determine direct cause. Waiting 2 weeks may hurt your case with Apple, especially since you haven’t gone. Your pictures showed a definite reaction and deserved treatment right away.
Contact an injury attorney right away.
Make sure you have a cogent written statement of the events and get it notarized. If you have family or friends with direct first hand experience seeing the events unfold, they need to prepare notarized statements as well.
When you go to the doctor, make sure you do not leave the office without a written and signed statement by the doctor noting reason for visit, diagnosis, and treatment. Make sure you save all receipts and make copies of them.
In my opinion, Apple needs to compensate you for the injury, unless they can prove it wasn’t caused by the band.
As to the band itself, you should place it (and all original packaging) in a sealed container and put it in a safe place. Do not send it to Apple without first consulting an injury attorney.
At this point, I believe you need to have an attorney act on your behalf. The more you talk with Apple and allow this to drag out, the worse it will be for you, in regards to getting properly compensated for pain and possible scarring, not to mention getting your bills paid by Apple. Handling this on your own was not the best way to go about this, in my opinion.
If Apple contacts you again, have them speak with your attorney.
I wish you well.
Stop procrastinating and get to the dermatologist ASAP. You should have already have done that. The longer your wait, the harder it will be for the doctor to determine direct cause. Waiting 2 weeks may hurt your case with Apple, especially since you haven’t gone. Your pictures showed a definite reaction and deserved treatment right away.
Contact an injury attorney right away.
Make sure you have a cogent written statement of the events and get it notarized. If you have family or friends with direct first hand experience seeing the events unfold, they need to prepare notarized statements as well.
When you go to the doctor, make sure you do not leave the office without a written and signed statement by the doctor noting reason for visit, diagnosis, and treatment. Make sure you save all receipts and make copies of them.
In my opinion, Apple needs to compensate you for the injury, unless they can prove it wasn’t caused by the band.
As to the band itself, you should place it (and all original packaging) in a sealed container and put it in a safe place. Do not send it to Apple without first consulting an injury attorney.
At this point, I believe you need to have an attorney act on your behalf. The more you talk with Apple and allow this to drag out, the worse it will be for you, in regards to getting properly compensated for pain and possible scarring, not to mention getting your bills paid by Apple. Handling this on your own was not the best way to go about this, in my opinion.
If Apple contacts you again, have them speak with your attorney.
I wish you well.
Last edited:
Unfortunately you most likely have a allergic reaction to one of the materials used in the band's manufacturing. I realistically don't see you getting anything out of this other than a free band made of another material. Unless this was a widespread problem Apple is probably under no obligation do do anything about it. People are allergic to things. Sometimes they don't know it until they are exposed to them. A similar thing happened when the S0 watch came out with the Milanese loop. People were showing sensitivity to the nickel content used in the bands alloy and it was reported in the forums and on tech sites. Nothing came of it and that band is still being sold today. Planter's doesn't get sued or compensate anyone every time someone discovers they have a peanut allergy. This is a similar situation. I'm sorry and I know it sucks, but its probably not worth the time and effort you're putting into it.