Allergic to AirPod Pro eartips

My son purchased and uses these daily, in October 2020 he went to the ENT for what he thought was just a really bad ear infection, she told him he had a really gnarly ear infection, prescribed antibiotics and drops. Two hours later he was vomiting and couldn’t handle the pain. Urgent care performed multiple tests, ambulance ride to a large hospital for continued care. He had life threatening meningitis, the infection caused a stroke and the infection worked its way through the base of the skull and the infection set up shop there. He had a mastoidectomy that next day, and they placed a tube in the ear, spent 4 days ICU and in total was hospitalized for 6 days. 5 different teams of doctors worked on his case, said they were taught about something of this nature in school, but rarely see it. We are truly lucky he’s alive. Went home with a PICC line to be sure the infection was clear. I questioned his AirPod Pros at that time, but didn’t reach out to Apple...we were just so blessed he was healing and alive, that it didn’t cross my mind. 6 mos. later his ear is now draining again, and he’s still been using the APP. I believe we need to reach out to Apple. If we can prevent one family from going through what he endured, that would be amazing.

Every single products out there has some sort of page/agreement that states the product might be harmful for some people. It does not do anything for the consumer since no-one read or take those seriously.

The battery, keyboard... issues don't permanently seriously effect your health, this one does so they are not the same thing.

The problem here is that everybody knows about nut allergy but only a few know about APP allergy. It took me a few weeks to make the connection and it was by luck. We need Apple to acknowledge this problem so that people can make the best decision about using/buying them. They don't have to put it on the pairing screen but they should put up a page or contact the media and make this issue known.

Apple has acknowledged the problem, see the posts above with links to Apple.com where they specifically address allergic reactions caused by their headphones.

Again, as evidenced by the experimentations in this thread, even when users understand that it isn’t in their best interest to use a product, they’re still inclined to try so long as their risk threshold isn’t met.

I replaced my tips and waited until the initial ear problems went away. The new foam tips did not work and the ear issues came back worse that before. I sent my APPs back to Apple, after going through their process, in February and was just notified I will get a full refund in a few weeks. My ears still have some minor issues that won’t go away. This has been going on since January

I have also had the experience of the itchy, flaky, scabby ears. Spoke with Apple safety team and answered all the questions sent pictures. No resolution beside buying back APP. Will be buying another brand unfortunately. I’m no suspecting it’s the body of the APP causing the issue no the tips but not 100%. Happy about getting a refund but not happy about losing APP.

Got my APP in May last year. Was ok until end of august. Started getting ear infections. Finally realized around Nov that the APP is the problem. Went on infection medication and bought memory foam tips. End of January I tried wearing them again now with the memory foam and the itchiness started after wearing them for just 5 min. Decided to take a longer break from the APP. So I have now waited for 3 months and tried them on this past weekend. Still getting unbearable itchiness and feels like the infection is developing again. So I've given up on APP all together.

NOW - what is the best in ear wireless headphone to buy now? For everyone where who has experienced this same problem. Have you come across a brand of in-ear headphone that has worked for you and you have enjoyed with no discomfort. I need a wireless pair of headphones, but now I don't know what to look into that won't give me this same problem. HELP Please! Should I try a regular airpot with no silicone tip, or something like Bose that has the silicone? I'm so lost - please what have you guys tried?

I hear you (just!!!). I’m still struggling five and a half weeks after my last infection (of many) and now have permanent ringing and residual pressure in my ears, which are still flaky and sore in the medial and external parts. Medication drops have stopped the fluid from leaking out but I feel utterly miserable and my experience, also, is that my ears are now hypersensitive, when I never had problems previously... I think I’m going to have to go for over ear headphones as I really can’t envisage me putting anything inside my ears again, although I happily wore air pods for years, previously.

I’m reluctant to sell my APPs on as this is not a rare reaction, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone else - so am trying to get a refund on barely worn AirPods but, also, an explanation and some acceptance. Despite spending a good hour and a half on the phone, describing my issue to various people, filling out forms and sending a load of info and pics, and a screenshot from my Medical records, I just had a 35 minute phone call from Apple, saying the engineers wanted even more information. Some of the questions were ridiculous, such as what proportion of a credit card does your allergy cover (?!). It is EAR sized, ffs! - and goes deep into the ear canal, which is swollen and inflamed. Apart from the size of the infected area vis a vis a credit card, and what size is it now compared to at its worst (no change in area: just less intense), which can be clearly seen from the many photos I sent of my ears both inflamed and ‘healing’, they asked me nothing I had not already told or shown them, and it seems that they clearly have not read or understood anything. Or maybe just don’t want to! I’m just waiting for them to ask me to resend a photo of my ear posing with a variety of credit cards...

Banjo, after my reactions, it took 2 - 3 months before anything ear related felt comfortable. In-ear did not work at all. Bone induction and over the ear worked for shot stints; but I would still get soreness. Once I was more fully healed, I didn't have an issue going forward with the non in-ear options. I had to do a lot of trial and error to get through that time.

Good luck!

Contact Apple. If they keep hearing from users that there is a problem, then they can take action to fix it. If they don't hear complaints, then they will assume that it is only a select few complaining.

Recently I went to the doctor for this problem thinking it was my ac but after coming to the realization that I’ve only had ear infections as long as I had the air pods pros this sucks cause I really like the device

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No this is definitely something from the materials Apple is using. I have always worn earbuds for work and have not had issues. As soon as I tried the AirPod pros the leaking started. now a year later I still have tinnitus that won’t go away. Ironically I tried to use the airpods for the first time in over 7-8 months and immediately had a flare up of leaking and crust in my right ear which is the only ear I used it in. I spent 100’s of at the ENT Dr.

Yes and yes. As I said many pages ago now, I've tried the DamonLight covers (https://www.amazon.com/DamonLight-Comfortable-Listening-Compatible-Accessories/dp/B085PVCWN9/) and the APSkins covers (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08543N8WH/) as well as the Azla Sedna Earfit tips (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DS5XWRM?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details) and the Comply foam tips (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088KPNKN2?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details). None of these things in any combination made any difference in the issue. Which makes me think you can cover these things all you want, use different tips, etc., but there is something risidual in the charging case, which is made of the same material as the body of APP, that will still aggravate the issue. I left the case open and empty for over a week to try to "air it out". That had no effect on the very "plasticy" chemical odor coming from it as soon as I closed it again. Something in this combination of stuff is gassing? I'm no chemist, but there has to be something in this "plastic" causing this issue. Maybe Apple (and/or a plant) cut a few corners to shave off a few cents and used some lesser-quality ingredient? We will never know, especially as long as Apple continues to not directly address it. All we can do is cross fingers that the next iteration will be different.

After 6 month of trying to convince Apple Support (Europe) of the impossibility to use the APP due to the allergic reaction which probably is a result of their chemical composition I finally got the "no refund" answer today.

Is there any way in the US to file a complaint to get a compensation for loss of money and most of all health?

EDIT: At least Apple should mention possible health risks in their marketing pages!

It took a few weeks, several conversations, a timeline of the actions I took (2 GP Doctors visits, 2 Dermatologists visits, my sales receipt and several photographs but I just received a check from Apple for the cost + sales taxes.

The system works but you need to be persistent.

Call their support network until you get someone who will help you. The first person was of little help. The second got my pods back and immediately returned them as "congratulations they are repaired". Of course they weren't "broken" to begin with...

The third person actually helped a lot and even called and emailed to give me a status! All support personal are not created equal.

I once reported a dead MacBook power supply as dead at like 5:00 pm eastern time (under warrantee) and a new one was at my doorstep at 10:00 am the next morning. Very impressed!

I wonder if having registered 3 MacBook's, 5 iPhones, 3 iPads, 4 iPods and an Airport Express had anything to do with it.

That was the exact pattern I had. It wasn’t right away but gradually developed over time. I’ve stopped and restarted using the AirPod pros now and few times and each time the issue comes back. It does not happen with other earbuds. It’s definitely my AirPod pros.