Allergic to AirPod Pro eartips

This is happening to me too! I got mine around September as an anniversary present to wear while I’m training for a half marathon! I had used my husband’s old AirPods up until then with no issues, but when I started using my new Airpod Pros, my ears started itching terribly! I thought it was just going to get some time to get used to them…however, each time I used them it got worse. At this point, my ears were starting to drain and had become scaly in my ear canal as well. I thought that it was maybe it was happening because while I was running, I would sweat and the AirPod Pros being noise cancelling didn’t give enough air circulation and it was just irritating my ears. I made the decision to run in my old Airpods and just use the Pros to listen to music, shows, etc. (when I’m not sweating). However, I noticed even when I just used them at night before bed watching TikToks for an hour or so, I would wake up the next day with my ears scaly and itchy again (I didn’t sleep with them in fyi). This led me to searching if others were having this issue and led me here. I love them and would hate to have to sell them so am going to look for some alternative tips! If any of you find good ones please let me know!

P.S. I have worn silicone wedding rings for extended periods of time too and have never had a reaction so I’m not sure why I would be allergic to the AirPod Silicone buds…?

I might add that I had to replace my pair due to an audio crackling issue. Before I replaced them I wore them all day. After replacing I was allergic instantly.

possibly the manufacturing materials changed over time. There was a 3 month gap between the two sets.

that might explain the deviation of results.

In one way, I’m so relieved that this is the cause, I always suspected but I guess didn’t want it to be this.

Im going to try new tips and silicone sleeves as a last resort, as functionally I love them, but can’t use them if they’re essentially making me ill

I would honestly try putting them under a bright light for a few hours and giving them a good clean, I think it might have worked for me, and I suffered really bad with them…ears weeping after an hour of use.

so far I’ve not had that at all, still just trying one at a time at the moment, but I’m fairly confident that has done the trick.

Yep, this seems to work for me as well. First time, I put them under my desk lamp all day. Tried them on for an hour or so, after wiping them off thoroughly. Althoug my ears were no longer weeping, they were still itchy. I decided to put them on the window sill, directly in the sun for a whole day. Haven't had a problem since. Might not work for everybody, but seems to work for me.

That’s exactly how mine was mate, and I share your wanting to try again because ultimately they are a great product, functionally at least.

have you tried putting them under a strong light for a couple of hours, and repeating for the other side, then give them a good clean?

I’m keen to know whether this helps anyone else as it did seem to for me.

This is EXACTLY my experience, apart from

the Genius part. I even watched a few videos where they show how to almost ‘forensically’ clean stuff like AirPods and I still have the drainage and allergy issue.

I suffer medical adhesive allergies as well as a mild latex allergy, so I at first assumed that the tips contained something similar.

My doctor even told me he’s never seen anyone have ‘swimmers ear’ after wearing in ear headphones. I’m at a loss. I can’t wear them at all and I’m back to wearing over the ear Beats instead, which as a spectacle wearer is less than ideal.

You’re welcome, I’m convinced it’s worked for me, I did a few hours each side, and then still wasn’t sure so bought a UV phone cleaner box thing and put them in there too…I’ve had no reactions so far since, and prob had them on for 2-2.5 hours last time I used them.

I really think you‘re onto something there. After wearing my AirPods Pro for about 8 months without any Problems I suddenly got a very painfull allergic reaction. Since then I couldn‘t wear them for more than 15 minutes without getting itching ears again. After seeing your comments about the light treatment I placed the AirPods behind a window in direct sunlight for a few days. I now wear them since 4 days for 3-4 hours per day and have no signs of any allergic reaction at all.

Note: I still have the original Ear Tips from Apple, so I was not allergic to them

mr. shadow wrote:

I was more thinking about maybe the bluetooth signal could cause the irritation as well,

No, it can't. You can't be "allergic" to Bluetooth or any noise cancellation feature. You can be allergic to silicone. And, you can become allergic at any time, even if you never were before.

I had this problem with AirPods Pro (ear drainage, itching) so got a refund and switched to Sennheiser MW2 and had no issues (except for the awful connectivity).

Eventually, I tried the Beats Fit Pro and had no issues for about 4 months - and now disappointingly the ear drainage has started again.

It’s strange that an allergy only presents itself after a few months of regular wear - including during a 7 mile run - and not straight away. Think I’m done with Apple ear buds. Such a shame because they’re great otherwise, but it’s not worth the risk.

How did I beat the constant itchy ears and swelling?! I took a one inch square of that food wrap, like Saran Wrap, and covered only the end ear piece, then with thread, I tied a double knot at the base of the soft ear piece, then with sizzors I cut off the excess Saran wrap, then carefully poked a hole in the tip of the ear bud to hear. Works like a dream!

I have the worst ear itching and I’m now realizing is because of the AirPods Pro. The rubber completely dries my ears to the point they itch and hurt horribly. As soon as I wear them they cause this sensation in my ears.

I'm not sure if its an allergic reaction, but just a response to having both ears blocked and sound vibrating within the ear canal. But sadly I cant use my AirPods Pro for long periods of time because I get an ear ache and a watery discharge during sleep. I am going to try to use them without the silicone rubber removed so it behaves like my 1st Gen AirPods, i.e. not creating a ear seal, and allowing air to flow in and out. Unfortunately it may be prone to slipping out.

This I think is the BIG problem with AirPod Pro. They are essentially an ear plug, which cant be a good thing.

What can be done? a smaller tip that allows air flow? A Plastic end tip? Something needs to be done by Apple.

DPSM1 wrote:

Well from what I’m hearing everyone is eventually getting these problems. Be good to hear from someone who uses these regularly for long periods of time and have never had the issue.

Of course most people who past in thread like this are going to be people who have a problem. The hundreds of thousands of people who have used them with no problem are unlikely to spend much time posting in a thread about a problem they don't have.

I've had my AirPod Pros for about two years. I use them almost daily. I have no allergies or other problems as a result.

Silicone allergies are rare but not to the point of being unheard of. A friend of mine went all the way through medical school when gloves were still silicone with no problem. When she had an emergency C-section with her first child, she had a terrible time because she was suddenly allergic to it. It happens.

It's unfortunate if you are one of the people who is allergic to either of those things, but, just as peanuts have not been made illegal because some people are allergic to them, neither has silcone.