Alright, let me tell you about my Apple Watch burn from 2018. It’s a bit of a saga, but stick with me.
It all started innocently enough. I got an Apple Watch, a Series 3 I think it was. Super excited, wore it all the time, especially during workouts. I was trying to get back into shape, so I was hitting the gym pretty hard, doing a lot of HIIT and cardio stuff.
Now, I noticed after a couple of weeks that my wrist under the watch sensor was getting a little red. Didn’t think much of it at first, figured it was just sweat and maybe the band being a bit tight. I loosened the band, kept wearing it.
Big mistake. The redness got worse. Started to itch like crazy. I still didn’t connect the dots completely, being a bit of a dummy sometimes. I chalked it up to maybe a weird rash or something I was allergic to. Changed soaps, you name it.
Then came the blisters. Little tiny ones at first, then they started to group together. It was getting painful. Finally, I had a moment of clarity and thought, “Wait a minute…could it be the watch?”
I took the watch off and gave my wrist a break. The redness started to fade, the itching subsided, and the blisters started to dry up. Bingo. It was the Apple Watch.
Here’s where I messed up again. Instead of going to a doctor or anything sensible, I decided to self-diagnose and self-treat. I figured, “Okay, it’s just a reaction to the materials in the watch.” I bought some hypoallergenic bandages and started wearing them under the watch to create a barrier between my skin and the sensor.
It worked…sort of. The burn didn’t get any worse, but it didn’t heal completely either. Plus, it was annoying having to wear a bandage all the time. It looked ridiculous.
So, I did some digging online (should’ve done this sooner). Found out that some people were having similar issues. Turns out, it could be a reaction to the nickel in the stainless steel, or even the adhesives used in the watch. Or, it could just be from trapped sweat and friction.
I tried a few different things. I cleaned the watch religiously with alcohol wipes. I switched to a breathable sport band. I made sure to take the watch off after workouts to let my wrist air out. I even tried putting a tiny piece of clear tape over the sensor to see if that would help (it didn’t).
Eventually, after a couple of months of trial and error, and a lot of careful monitoring, the burn finally healed completely. I still wear my Apple Watch, but I’m way more cautious now.
- Key takeaways:
- Don’t ignore early signs of skin irritation.
- Take the watch off regularly to let your skin breathe.
- Clean the watch often.
- Consider switching to a different band.
- If it’s really bad, see a doctor!
It was a pain in the butt, but I learned my lesson. Listen to your body, and don’t be afraid to take a break from your tech!