If your jewelry of choice is your smartwatch, bracelet, or ring, you may have encountered a pesky side effect from tracking your steps—a skin rash. For those who wear snug-fitting clothing and accessories such as leggings, underwear, socks, and headbands daily without any problems, the red blotches, itchiness, and irritation may come as a surprise. The difference between these garments and your favorite fitness device? Sweat, salt, body lotion, dirt, and debris can get trapped underneath the wristband you wear every day without washing, causing those less-than-pleasant symptoms.
The good news is that this irritation can not only be treated but also prevented. To help you combat any non-technical issues your Fitbit, Oura, Apple, or Garmin may be giving your skin, we spoke with top dermatologist Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, MD, and dermatological nurse and aesthetician Natalie Aguilar, RN.
Why Fitness Trackers Can Cause a Skin Rash
According to Aguilar, fitness trackers can cause irritation for a variety of reasons. One common culprit for that wrist rash? Wearing the band too tight. A tight band creates friction against your skin, which is bound to cause some irritation if it’s rubbing up against your wrist all hours of the day.
Never taking breaks from wearing your tracker is another recipe for skin irritation, according to Aguilar. The underbelly of your watch face and band provides the ideal warm, dark, and humid environment for bacteria to flourish, which she says can mess with your skin and sometimes even lead to infection.
You probably also wear your tracker while you get sweaty during exercise, and she says that added moisture can further aggravate tender skin and cause a heat rash. “Our skin was designed to protect our body from foreign materials and invaders like bacteria,” she tells Byrdie. “So when an item is constantly creating friction, the acid mantle of the skin is disrupted, making the skin even more sensitive to metals, leathers, and plastics.”
And sometimes skin irritation is due to a full-blown allergy, adds Houshmand. Some fitness trackers are made with nickel, a material that she says commonly causes an allergic condition called contact dermatitis. Many tracker straps also contain trace amounts of acrylates and methacrylates, which she says can also cause an allergic reaction.
How to Prevent Rashes From Your Fitness Tracker
The simplest solution? Give your skin a break from your fitness tracker, says Houshmand. Don't wear it every day; if you must, make sure to give your skin time to breathe. Aguilar also advises against wearing the band too tight against your skin to prevent any unnecessary rubbing. If you can't bear to part with your tracker, she suggests switching off wrists every day to minimize the chances of a rash forming.
On a similar note, Aguilar cautions against wearing your tracker while bathing or swimming to prevent the skin under your watch from growing too moist. The same goes for excessive sweating—if you notice yourself getting a little too drippy, she suggests ditching your wearable until after your skin is dry again. If you have to keep wearing it, she has a pro tip: “A little dust of cornstarch under the watch plate works wonders [to] absorb moisture and soothe skin.”
Regularly cleaning your skin and wearable can also help stave off the potential for skin irritation, adds Aguilar. That way, both surfaces will stay as dry and bacteria-free as possible to mitigate any risk of infection. Houshmand likewise recommends protecting your skin’s moisture barrier, which, when in balance, helps hold in the good stuff (like hydration) and fend off the bad stuff (like bacteria). “Irritants actually remove moisture from the outer layer of skin, which allows them to go deeper into the skin and cause inflammation,” she says. “Look for moisturizers that include lipids and ceramides. These ingredients are vital to maintaining skin barrier integrity.”
How to Treat Rashes From Your Fitness Tracker
Hopefully, those preventive measures will ensure that you don't have to deal with skin rashes in the first place. But if your irritation goes from bad to worse, you can do a few things to remedy it, says Aguilar. The most obvious? Don't wear the tracker, she says. If your skin doesn't come into contact with the irritant, then it won't get more irritated.
Once you’re tracker-free, she says to wash the affected area with warm soap and water. If you’re looking for rash relief, she suggests applying a small amount of over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone, calamine lotion, or antihistamine cream, all of which can calm uncomfortable itchiness.
Houshmand also recommends wiping petroleum jelly over troubled skin for added protection while you heal. According to Aguilar, continuing to wash and soothe the area for three to five days should do the trick.
If you suspect allergies are to blame for your skin woes, Houshmand says it's wise to get to the bottom of your rash so you can avoid it in the future. Check with your dermatologist about getting a skin allergy test to determine if nickel or another material is the source of your discomfort.
When to See a Dermatologist
If your skin irritation doesn't clear up on its own after a few days despite taking measures to treat it, then it's time to head to the dermatologist, says Aguilar. If your rash appears suddenly, starts to spread, or you develop blisters or oozing, then head to the derm straight away, adds Houshmand. These could all be signs that you're dealing with a bacterial or yeast infection and need professional help, explains Aguilar.
The Final Takeaway
Skin allergies or wearing your fitness tracker for too long or too tight can all contribute to irritation in the area. Luckily, you can prevent discomfort by taking regular breaks from wearing your tracker and keeping the area clean and dry. But if your skin troubles escalate and you need to deal with an itchy rash or unpleasant inflammation, ditching your watch and applying soothing anti-itch creams, moisturizers, and protective barriers like petroleum jelly can help your skin get back to baseline. However, if your symptoms don't clear up within a few days of taking those measures, it's time to book an appointment with your dermatologist.
FAQ
- How long does watch rash last?
Most rashes and irritation from your watch can last anywhere from a few days to 3 weeks. If you notice the irritation is progressively getting worse or is taking longer than a month to heal, make an appointment with your dermatologist.
- Why does my smart watch leave a red mark on my wrist?
If your smart watch is leaving a red mark on your wrist, you're potentially wearing it too tight or not giving your skin enough time to breathe in between sweaty workouts or daily wear.
