skin irratations and itchy ears from powerbeats pro wireless

I had my first call today , submnitted photos and have a callback tomorrow

its a known issue - They have it listed in their documentation

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211158

look what its does

https://dermnetnz.org/topics/allergy-to-acrylate/

The dermatitis is usually confined to the area of contact and may cause itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering.

I would like to add an update, I decided to call Apple Support after I noticed this forum isn't really monitored by those who make the decisions and I mean this kindly. After talking to Apple support and by the way, I got NO runaround at all, they are ver professional and timely on everything. Today I got my third call, all within one week where they informed me they are going to issue a refund. I was transferred to another department where they too was very professional, they took my information, setup a return box then instructed me on how the money will be transferred back to me.

I would suggest everyone here to just call Apple Support, all of this happen for me within 2 weeks of my initial call them them. Good Luck everyone...

camry410, for many of us the allergic reaction comes from the whole body of the PowerBeats Pro earphone, not just the tip inside the ear. I tried a different tip, a foam one from Comply, and that didn't solve the problem, and quite honestly I didn't really expect it to because I get an allergic reaction wherever any part of the earphone body touches my skin — inside my ears, just in front of my ears, and up and over and behind my ears where the ear hooks go. I even got a reaction on the skin of my arm when I taped one of the earphones to my arm for a few hours. So I reckon it's something in the plastic body of the earphone (including the ear hooks) that is causing the problem. Perhaps for you it is actually just the ear tips that are affecting your skin, but I'd advise paying close attention to those other areas of skin where each earphone touches you.

My ENT said to use OTC Cortisone 10. It cleared it up in about a week. He said to continue using for about 10 days and don't user the Power Beats anymore. If you continue to get infections from using them it can become chronic.

Stop using them. Infections will reoccur. Others have had loss of hearing. I was persistent with Apple Support. Numerous phone calls and emails back and forth. 3 months later after a claim filed, provided proof of purchase and Apple sent me a return label to send my Powerbeats back for their lab to examine and photos of inside and outside ear infections, they sent me a check for retail price of my the Powerbeats.

My ears have been bothering me for months, oozing, cracked skin and alot of crustiness. Went to the doctor three times. After the third time I stopped wearing the PowerBeats for several weeks and my ears cleared up. I wore them again for the first time yesterday for about an hour. By evening, my ears were oozing again. Something definitely wrong with this material.

I received my refund and other than the initial steps of answering questions and submitting pictures, the rest was relatively easy. Whole process took about 8 weeks...

I've had the same issue, took me 3-4 different attempts (separated by 6-10 days for the irritation and fluid to clear up) to narrow it down to my powerbeats. Apple was very helpful (although it was a long and tedious multiple phone call process) to get them returned and refunded. I thought I had a defective pair so I replaced them with another color and unfortunately had the same issue on first use.

I'm wondering if the newest version of the traditional power beats are made from the same material? I'd like to replace the pro with the traditional version if possible since I love these headphones, even though its a huge bummer to not be able to use the pro version, but not sure if it's worth the risk for a 3rd time. Been using the power beats to workout since they originally came out but thinking I might have to switch brands and try something else at this point.

My dr. prescribed:

https://www.goodrx.com/hydrocortisone-acetic-acid/what-is

It healed to 90% with 24-48 hours.

To answer the refund question, I have considered it but would need to wear them to the level of pain and discomfort again (which I had for 2+ weeks) which does not sound exciting but I do want to try them with more cleaning and see what happens. If they get worse, I will likely request a refund. Mine were refurbed so I am not sure they would refund. But I will certainly try if it comes to that. After looking at Amazon, 10K report them as 4 and 5 stars so I am guessing Apple sees us as the "minority." My Dr. is getting them this week so I may check in with her as I told her it was from wearing them but thought it was the moisture stuck but now, with it on the outer ear too, I question that.

Guys we all are having conditions that are same and is the Beats Pro you have the black color because I have a friend with the white ones that is not having this problem but I purchased 2nd pair and still the same so it is definitely the material and getting rid of it is not that easy without a doctor visit but what work for me was the Zinc Sulfate ointment and antibiotic ointments

I have had the same problem for 6 months and couldn't figure out what was happening. My wife suggested it might be the earphones so I stopped using them. Low and behold the problem went away. Started using them again a few weeks later and the itching turned into drainage, flaking, and finally an earache. Called Apple and they acted like they had never heard of such a thing. They created a case, had me submit photos and said they would get back to me within four hours. I'm still waiting.

For those of you just starting the process with Apple, stay the course. It’s a long process. They will schedule many calls, request pictures and documentation, etc. They will drag the process out. But, I just shipped mine back yesterday and waiting to hear how they will handle the refund. You might have to speak to multiple people, but ultimately I have been dealing with the same advisor now for a couple months. He communicates via phone and email. Good luck to all. There are so many people dealing with this and Apple needs to make it right. At first I didn’t realize what was causing my ear problems either. But everything that each of you has described is we a rly what I have experienced too.

Skilduff wrote:

Another victim

gawdd

the number of cases must be as high as Covid 19

Apple Lockdown a must

Drama much?

There's nothing anyone in this thread can do but find a set of tips that do not irritate your ears.

Every brand has this issue with stock buds because they all use the "least likely" to cause a reaction formula for creating the tips. YOU ALL HAVE DEVELOPED A SENSITIVITY. Get aftermarket foam or formula tips. This is your only solution.

Read on the B&O forums, same issue with a small percentage of people. Sony? Same. Airpods? Same. Pixel buds? same. Jabra, sennheiser, Galaxy Buds? All the same.

gol75, the problem we are having goes beyond just where the ear tips touch our ears. I like many of us get a reaction wherever any parts of the PBPs touch my skin, i.e. inside my ears, in front of my ears, and up and over behind my ears. I even taped one of the PBPs to the inside of my forearm for several hours as a test, and a few days later, the same skin reaction set in on the skin of my arm which my doctor diagnosed as contact dermatitis. If you check back through this discussion you can see some of these skin reactions people have suffered in and around their ears. Bottom line is that trying different tips isn't the solution. I actually tried Comply foam tips and they might have reduced the reaction just where they touch the skin inside of my ears, but I still had itching, weeping and flaking everywhere else. And check out my Apr 25 12:17 PM post to see the lengths I've gone to.

I had the exact same issue while using Powerbeats Pro while working out. I switched to over the ear headphones and the rash subsided within 2 weeks. There's clearly a health issue with this product. I wonder if Lebron James has the same problems since they paid him to help sell these. 🤔