Skin irritation from smart watch

[livpoksoc]

My old Garmin Vivosmart HR plus gave up the ghost last month. I wasn't too bothered but then the new Garmin Venu 2 Plus was heavily discounted the same weekend so I ordered one.

A few weeks in and the strap is irritating my skin. I had similar with my original Vivosmart but it resolved, so was a little surprised to see it return so quickly with the new watch.

Just wondering if other CC'ers have had similar experiences with other smart watches and could recommend any solutions like after market straps etc.

 

[Brandane]

Not so much the strap; but the back of the actual watch of a FitBit caused a small burn like mark after a few weeks of wearing it. I figured that I didn't like what it was doing and the possible cause (radiation of some type? I don't know....) so I stopped wearing it and wouldn't have another. My mate wears a Garmin VivoActive 4 which has caused him to have similar (but worse) marks on his wrist where it contacts the back of the watch. He feels duty bound to wear it though - it was a gift from his daughters.

 

[bikingdad90]

I sometimes get irritated by my watch, I loosen the strap off so I can get a little finger under it but not enough to allow the watch face to spin round my wrist.

 

[figbat]

The strap may be down to any plasticisers or similar in the band causing an allergic reaction; over time these are likely to either dissipate or you form a resistance to them. The watch back may be due to the light used for pulse rate checking, or again some kind of trace element or chemical in the watch body (nickel for example).

 

[Time Waster]

The first fitbit smartwatch was the surge. I got one and had the irritation issue they were well known for. Later ones to sell came with a warning to regularly wash it, your wrist and leave it off your wrist for a bit every so often to give your skin a break.

They also quietly offered replacements for people complaining. Only issue was you had to send the old one in to be checked over by fitbit then they'd send you a voucher to get s free one from your nearest retailer to stock them. I couldn't wait that long so just left it off overnight at the weekend.

My garmin fenix 6 has once given me a bit of irritation so I took it off for awhile. I think that's the best option. I plan on replacing the fenix strap with a more breathable option at some point though. Silicone watch straps from smartwatch and fitness watch brands tend I cause irritation at times because they're meant to be worn 25/7. Casino watches have had synthetic straps for decades without issues. You'd think garmin and others would copy the strap material and design after finding out about the issue?

 

[fossyant]

We changed the strap on my wife's Samsung to a metal one. The plastic strap irritated her skin.

 

[Slick]

I use a Garmin watch and whilst I wouldn't say it irritated the skin, it did leave blotchy marks if I wasn't careful with cleaning the strap regularly and a dab of e45 on my wrist after a shower at work after a good workout. I changed to the webbing strap and have had no problem since.

 

[presta]

I've been using a NATO strap on my Polar HRM ever since the original strap broke 10-15 years ago. About a month ago my wrist got itchy and sore underneath it, and a quick sniff told me it was overdue for a good wash, after which the soreness went away. Being fabric, they do absorb a lot more sweat and grime than other straps, and it doesn't get chucked in the washing machine once a week like everything else.

(The strap on my other HRM broke a while back, but being as it doesn't have ordinary spring bars, I can't fit a new strap on it.)

 

[livpoksoc]

Thanks all, so not alone in this. I too am surprised Garmin et al haven't changed up the materials as it's a known issue.

 

[neil_merseyside]

Not so much the strap; but the back of the actual watch of a FitBit caused a small burn like mark after a few weeks of wearing it. I figured that I didn't like what it was doing and the possible cause (radiation of some type? I don't know....) so I stopped wearing it and wouldn't have another. My mate wears a Garmin VivoActive 4 which has caused him to have similar (but worse) marks on his wrist where it contacts the back of the watch. He feels duty bound to wear it though - it was a gift from his daughters.

If it's a metal back it's likely 'just' nickel itch, from cheap plating .

 

[DRHysted]

I have the same issue with both my Garmin Fenix and Apple Watch. The Apple is better as I’ve changed to a sports strap. However to reduce issues I wash the straps daily, and alternate wrists.