Apple Watch Sensor burns

Hello, this is not an Apple Watch issue. I do not own any Apple products, but came looking for "Apple Watch Wrist Burn" and landed here, because my Garmin watches have done the same thing three times. Replacement of the watch doesn't really help. Like other respondents here, the issue may not arise for a long time, or it may come back after a short while or a long while. Every sports watch with wrist sensors I have investigated has this same problem.

A dermatologist may not be able to tell you more than that you have contact dermatitis. There doesn't seem to be a solution, despite all the manufacturers being aware of the problem.

Advice from multiple sources says to scrupulously clean the sensors and get them completely dry before putting the watch back on (a completely dry) wrist. Don't use perfumed, scented soaps or moisturizers on the wrist. Don't leave the watch on if you are going to have a wet wrist (kind of difficult if you run and sweat...the idea is to remove the watch as soon as possible after a sweaty session).

The basic advice is to keep the back of the watch clean.... There are myriad articles online like this linked one suggesting what to do: https://gadgetsandwearables.com/2023/01/24/fitness-tracker-rash/

I hope this helps. This is a very frustrating problem for all wrist sensor wearers...you never know if you're going to have it happen to you.

I won't be back to reply to comments...as I said, I'm not an Appleite. Good luck/

It really depends on the type of mark. AussyLipps with the blue bangle had a square mark but the sensor area was white - fairly obvious skin sensitivity to the metal back possibly to nickel, but could be daily contamination.

Round red marks the size of the sensor window suggests maybe sensitive to heat.

Problem with any soap is they can weaken the seals and that applies to alcohol even more.

A clean cloth or face cloth with warm water is quite sufficient for the Watch body.

• Don’t wear it at night.
• Cleanse skin morning and night with a face cloth and mild skin cleanser.
• Wash the watch with the same cloth daily.
• Moisturise at night.
• Wear it on the other wrist until the skin heals.

If it continues consider a barrier cream or a transparent patch over the Watch back.

I am so sorry. I haven't contacted Apple, but I have had the issues as you describe with series 7, after specific OS updates, e.g., blood after oxygen sensor was introduced, and after the Sept/Oct 2023 updates. As an experiment, I turned off all sensors a about a month ago and have had no problems since, zero. I figure I'll turn on specific sensors if or when I need them. I may turn on heart rate for exercise. That may not be the preference of others, which I understand.

I too have experience my apple watch burning my wrist pretty badly. I uploaded a picture. I experienced a pretty severe burn that swelled up pretty good after about three days and I discontinue to wear it for about three weeks. After it seemed to have cleared up, it left a permanent scar on my wrist. I tried to wear it again thinking it was just maybe because I needed my watch cleaned but after I cleaned my watch thoroughly and proceeded to wear it again, the same thing happened again. So I decided not to wear my watch anymore. And just when I was about to give it away, I came up with an idea that I hope you guys can use as well as it has worked for me. Buy some clear resin, mix the equal parts of it and place just enough to cover the round sensor on the back of your watch as you can see in the picture, I covered just the sensor with the resin. After I let it sit on there for about 24 hours I proceeded to wear my watch again and I have now wore it for about a week and I didn’t experience any longer any type of burn or any irritation from my watch so apparently , it is the sensor. But since resin isn’t permeable, although clear, the sensor still can read your wrist, but it cannot penetrate the skin. Let me know in the thread if this works for anyone else. I think it was brilliant! I hope this helps all of us as it has for me.

No resolution from Apple.  They say this is not thier problem and I should go see a dermatologist to remedy my alergic reaction.  I just gave up. My Dr said I could put a barrier cream on so the nickel does not irritate the skin.  I am very disappointed with Apple. 

I have the same issue. I have been wearing a Series 7 for about 2 years, I suddenly started getting a rash underneath the watch face. I am already wearing a bumper to protect watch face, so nothing is touching my skin except the circle around the sensors under the watch face.

I called APple support, they did not recommend covering watch with nail polish as it might impede the sensors.

They said there are some third party providers who sell protectors for the back with holes where the sensors are, but I cannot find any in 45mm size.

Very frustrating. The bumper is made of TPU, so nothing allergic there. And I actually tested the watch face, it tested negative for nickel, but its possible there are trace amounts. if anyone has suggestions would love to hear it.

Stainless steel contains nickel in small quantities.

Wearing your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Chances are it's dirt and/or sweat. Don't wear it overnight. Wash snd moisturise daily.

I contacted Apple support and demanded to speak to a supervisor. I was directed to a very nice support person named John. He spent about 20 minutes getting details about the burn I developed a few weeks after purchasing my Apple Watch 9. He was very familiar with the problem, and said he would send my information (as well as multiple photos he had me take of my burn) to Apple engineers. He also sent me several articles on cleaning the watch, etc. He made one very good suggestion-to power down the watch and then wear it on my other wrist. That would rule out the sensors being the cause of the burn. So I powered off the watch and wore it overnight. When I woke up, I discovered that the skin on the circular area under the watch face was moist, which is exactly what happened on my other wrist before the area got inflamed. So to me, that proves that it’s the nickel on the bottom of the watch face that is causing these burns, not the sensors. I should add that I have worn regular wristwatches for decades, and have never experienced a burn. I hope everyone on this thread calls Apple support and reports their burns to a supervisor so hopefully Apple will be motivated to fix this problem.

I've had the same issue with burns from an Apple Watch Ultra, but I didn't get it with the original Apple Watch Series 1 that it replaced. The burns can really be quite irritating by the evening. My workaround is to never wear the watch at night, and to alternate between the wrists I wear it on, switching every 2-3 days, changing the wrist orientation in settings each time.

I thought this was an isolated allergy issue, until I saw an article about it today.

My recommendation for people with such delicate skin is

Firstly wear it in the other wrist for a while to allow healing

Wash the wrists night and morning.

Moisturise at night 

Use a damp facecloth to wash the watch back and strap every night.

Do not wear it at night.

If it persists, stop wearing it and see a doctor, and if you suspect nickel sensitivity or contamination by work or DIY consider either a barrier cream or the plastic backed SE watch.

Apple's recommendation is to contact them.Click here > Contact - Official Apple Support  or phone numbers Click here > Contact Apple for support and service - Apple 

Health & Safety 

Thank you for participating in the Apple Support Communities. 

 I want to make sure you reach the right team for help with your Watch.  I recommend that you stop using it and contact Apple Support directly. Depending on your region, you may be able to reach them here 

Click here >  Contact - Official Apple Support  

or phone numbers 

Click here > Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support 

We fellow user volunteers are not qualified to answer medical questions but Apple have a specialist team.

Apple are not suggesting you see a dermatologist, Apple Inc do not post here

Safety information including skin sensitivity recommendations can be found in

Important safety information for Apple Watch – Apple Support (UK)

 I want to make sure you reach the right team for help with your Watch.  I recommend that you contact Apple Support directly. Depending on your region, you may be able to reach them here 

Click here >  Contact - Official Apple Support  

or phone numbers 

Click here > Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support 

We user volunteers are not qualified to answer medical questions but Apple have a specialist team.

Border961 wrote:

I’m not a medical professional. I just happen to know the difference between a burn and a rash caused by an allergic reaction.

Most competent medical professionals would need at least a face to face consultation and examination of the affected part before they try to differentiate the many possible causes for something that looks like any of the rather variable photos in this thread. In many cases further testing might be needed to confirm a diagnosis.

Within my limited knowledge, possible causes might include contact dermatitis, allergy, chemical burns, or much less likely - thermal burns. I consider true thermal burns less likely than other causes because the temperature difference needed to cause a burn would be sufficient to cause immediate and noticeable discomfort, which would alert the user and cause the watch to be removed before damage was done.

By way of pointing out that LD150 offers correct advice to contact medical advisors or Apple directly on a 1:1 basis, I will also comment on the post earlier in the thread which claimed the user is professionally qualified - and using an Apple Watch to monitor their cardiac condition. Even most of our unqualified users know Apple Watch is explicitly not approved as a diagnostic and monitoring device where the wearer has a pre-diagnosed condition, and this is explicitly stated in the setup for ECG functions. Any competent individual with medical qualifications would be aware and would select more appropriate devices for their own care.

Dear all,

Same problem for me. I wear my watch every day for more than a year (series 7). Suddenly, last week, I started to feel a pain on my wrist, when I took off my watch, I noticed a burn just where the sensors are. Apple is hiding behind a so-called allergy that would have appeared overnight.

I went directly to my dermatologist who confirmed that it was indeed a burn and advised me not to wear the watch anymore.

Following this, I asked Apple to replace my watch and to pay me damages

I will keep you informed.

[Edited by Moderator]