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Allergic to AirPod Pro eartips

I am having ear drainage when using my new AirPods pro.has anyone else experienced this problem?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Nov 27, 2019 3:31 PM

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I purchased the AirPod pros and also had an allergic reaction to the silicone tips. I definitely would recommend that if anyone experiences itching they stop using this as it may be that there is an allergy to the tips. Follow up with a dr if unsure to avoid an ear infection.

Posted on Dec 20, 2019 10:06 AM

2,091 replies

Oct 11, 2021 10:06 AM in response to Burningears

Interesting to read comments. Apple were also brilliant with me and after photos/discussion in Ireland, full refund. However, some points you may find helpful (1) I got replacement tips. No difference, same reaction (2) My original pros were fine, no problems. Only the replacement ones after the recall of the first batch have been a problem. (3) Didn’t realise until sent photos to Apple engineers that when my skin dried in my ear after initial drainage, it had the shape of the pros and how they sat in my ear. Thus suggesting it is not simply the tips. Wish i knew if it was safe to go back to non pro airpods.

Oct 14, 2021 9:58 AM in response to Edwin Ashley

Had similar problems to most others in this thread (irritation, drainage, itching) happen a few weeks after I started wearing the Pros. Switched to memory foam tips but the sound and ANC was worse. Bought these replacement silicone tips from Amazon and have had zero problems https://www.amazon.co.uk/SpinFit-CP1025-Apple-Airpods-Pro-Dusty-Pink/dp/B08CDM69MP/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=AirPods%2BPro%2Bsilicone%2Btips%2Bspinfit&qid=1634230413&sr=8-4&th=1

Oct 14, 2021 10:01 AM in response to Edwin Ashley

I have had sensitivity to earbuds my whole life. Apple is not the only brand that uses bunk silicone but they should know better. I have found that the memory foam AirPods Pro tips from Comply sit easy in my ears and cause no allergic reactions. When you go to install them it feels weird to rip the old tips off they feel like they are going to break but just pop them off and I recommend wiping the whole set down with rubbing alcohol to remove any silicone residue before applying the Comply tip to your cleaned AirPods.

Oct 15, 2021 11:16 AM in response to robapa

My wife and I both have a different set of the pro each. We don’t wear others AirPods and we are both having adverse reactions to the AirPods within in the ear. Symptoms are fluid build up, mild pain, itching and crusty discharge. I have absolute clean inner ears with zero wax build up. I never have these symptoms after not wearing the AirPods for a week. Could be two months later, I will use them again for a little as 20 minutes, and the symptoms will return every time.

Oct 17, 2021 4:41 PM in response to Edwin Ashley

I also had this issue (irritated, itchy, watery ears after prolonged usage) and wanted to give my update. For me it was definitely the silicone eartips; tried putting in the Airpods without the tips on, no reaction. Put in just the tips for an hour, super itchy.


Went through the Comply and Spinfit C1025 tips that were suggested on this forum. The Comply I had a ton of trouble getting them to seal properly but the Spinfit ones worked about as well as the regular ones. Still causes some irritation with long listening sessions but much reduced itching and redness. I'm guessing b/c the spinfit ones are medical-grade silicone, they don't contain some chemical/allergen that the Apple ones do.

Oct 19, 2021 5:35 AM in response to takahash

In my case it’s the entire air pod and what ever it’s made of. I removed the silicone tips and tried using the AirPods like this. The next day my ears suffered the draining and itchiness. I went back to my AirPods first gen. I do not have any issues with them. Called Apple and there was nothing they would do. First time they are hearing about this. Lol.

Oct 19, 2021 5:59 AM in response to takahash

I ordered AP3 yesterday when I saw the announcement. To be delivered Oct 26. I am hoping they will resolve my issues, since I never had any problem with the old AP.


But I am somewhat skeptical, and will be monitoring closely for the first 14 days return period. I have tried the APP without silicone tips, and still had the same issues. So its not the silicone for me, but something else in the APP. Maybe its the noise cancellation, or the design of the mesh air vents. The original AP does not have those mesh vent. However AP3 does have the same design as APP, just without noise cancellation and without silicone tips (although I can't conceive how noise cancellation would cause contact dermatitis). So many variables, and its frustrating that Apple has not been more definitive about the root cause. But I am hopeful for the new AP3!


I also initiated the return process with Apple, which has to be escalated because I am outside the warranty period.

Oct 19, 2021 6:05 AM in response to da7771

I think it's fair to say that we've all been frustrated as we've tried to figure out the cause of the reactions with APP. Like you I had the same issue with or without the silicone tips so I a leaning towards it being something in the plastic itself.


Best of luck on your return process and please do let us know your experiences with the AP3.

Oct 24, 2021 8:11 PM in response to takahash

Weird thing is that this started when I bought a replacement set the pro 6 months ago. I had a early set of pro that I purchased in the UAE from a Virgin Store that were coated to be black. (I previously refused to buy them as long as they were white). Heck I slept in these modified pro versions for months and months when I was home because my lovely snores a lot and i might watch a movie to fall asleep and not wake our baby. I really wore them allot in the daytime as well to be hands free on the phone. I like them so much after using them, I even bought this white pair because I missed using them. So, I mention to ask the question "did they change anything?"

I will not be the one to waste my money to try the 3rd version unless Apple mentions they have change the materials they use in manufacturing. (or see what their manufactures are using). Seeing testimony on the new version here would change my mind possibly as well.


Bear

Oct 24, 2021 10:09 PM in response to bearlemley

To update my story I tried replacement tips from Amazon and it didn’t help. Same reaction. I ended up getting a pair of Sony in-ear headphones and have no problems at all. But I miss the easy integration you get with the Airpods so am thinking of risking the new Airpods 3 when it comes out.


I wish Apple would at least acknowledge the issue so we can understand that they are fixing it. Without this we can’t trust that anything is being done.

Allergic to AirPod Pro eartips

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