Skin irritation started under Apple Watch sensor

My wife has been experiencing this from day one too. We got a Series 8. For the first 6-7 months, she did not wear it as she was not habituated to a watch, but gradually, as she tried, it created redness within a day, and it got bad. We have been attempting sanitizing, changing the belt, moisturizing everything, and nothing works. It has to be a metal or a sensor-based reaction. Is Apple doing anything about it? They should ideally replace watches or speak about this actively.

I just discovered a rash under my Apple Watch today. Did a quick google search and found this thread immediately. Tried to upload a picture, but Apple is not allowing it. This is my 2nd Apple Watch. I have a Rose Gold Apple Watch SE purchased brand new Jan 2021. I have worn this watch, worked out in this watch, washed my hands, swam in it, and everything else religiously since then. This is the first time I’ve ever had any sort of skin irritation from any watch. My watch is not new… the only thing new is an update. I don’t believe that this is from the equipment, it seems that the OS update has caused some sort of issue with the watch. Apple absolutely needs to do something immediately.

I’m relieved to know I’m not alone here but also, this is not good! After 6 months of wearing my brand new Apple Watch I developed an itchy red spot on my left wrist directly underneath where the crown hits. Then it turned into a growth and I switched the watch to my right wrist. I thought it was suspicious so had my dermatologist biopsy and treat. Turns out it was a Sebaceous Keratosis growth —thankfully benign. After only 2 or 3 months on my right wrist I started getting a red burn-like ring under the watch sensor area and the same(!) red spot that got scaly & itchy directly where the crown dial hits. ****! So now I can’t wear my Apple Watch I guess?

Did your Dr. give you a fact sheet about your diagnosis? My Dad and both my brothers have/had them. They’re quite common part of aging and typically start in middle age. They’re totally benign and not a precursor or predictor of any cancers.

I found a good article for you if your Dr. didn’t provide one.

>>Seborrheic keratosis is a common benign (noncancerous) skin growth. It tends to appear in middle age and you may get more as you get older. Seborrheic keratoses are not pre-cancerous, but they can resemble other skin growths that are.<<

>>Most people will have at least one in their lifetime. They tend to appear in mid-adulthood and their frequency increases with age. They are harmless and don’t require treatment, but you can have them removed if they bother you.

Skin growths like seborrheic keratoses are sometimes also called epidermal tumors. That doesn’t mean they’re cancer, though. Technically, moles and warts are also epidermal tumors. That just means they are clusters of extra cells on the epiderma, the outer layer of the skin.<<

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21721-seborrheic-keratosis

People change throughout their lifetime. When I was a child I got severe rashes from oatmeal. Now, 50+ years later, I eat oats with no issues at all. I moved to Florida in 2001, and 23 years later I’m moving again because I’ve become sensitized to some of the unique pollens and grasses here, at least that’s what my allergist has told me.

The link I shared with you has Apple Support’s phone numbers in various countries and regions around the world.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

What sensor cover are you referring to, the bottle cap labels?

I've been using the same Apple Watch with Aluminium case since 2018 and contact dermatitis appeared out of nowhere. After 6 years!!

I changed the wrists and it happened again. Now I've got a brand-new Series 9 with the same Aluminium case as a gift, but I am unsure whether it will cause the same issue.

I wonder if maybe it is because of the Aluminium case and is there anybody experiencing the same issue with stainless steel or titanium cases?

I got my watch in 2020 and I started getting rashes under watch head too. I’m a nurse and I thought it was from washing me hands and it getting wet underneath it. But I been careful to make sure that it’s dry underneath as well. I made sure I clean the watch head. I know it’s not too tight because it slightly rotates around my wrist. I have it where it’s just enough it could move slightly, but not enough to lose the connection so I get my information, I clean the watch all the time. And I don’t wear it to bed at night. I keep it on the charger so it will last all day at work. I thought maybe could’ve been a reaction to a med. The only thing I take is the occasional Tylenol or NSAID. Now that I see so many people have this issue I wonder what it could be

Same thing happened to me I stopped wearing it and treated the area when it cleared up I waited a week and started wearing it again, the rash came back. So I might be done with the Apple Watch Series 6 🥺 and I loved wearing it.

Hey! Curious to know if you ever found a solution that worked for you? I’ve had an Apple Watch since 2018 and never had an issue until Dec 2023. I called Apple about it last week, spent 45+ minutes on the phone, was escalated to a safety advisor and then my case was sent to engineering. 5 days later I finally got a call back and all they were prepared to do is lecture me on how to wash my watch (which I already do, religiously). Very frustrating!

I have zero history of skin irritations and this 100% only started once I switched to my new Apple Watch in December. The irritated areas also don’t go away once you stop wearing the watch. They improve but after months of not wearing it, I’ll get the reaction within an hour if I try to wear it again. I’ve been a die-hard Apple user since iphone came out originally, so this is a bummer.

Nope. I’ve done all those things. Even to the point where I’d take it off if I washed my hands and only put it back on once my hands were fully dry. I wash it with non-soap cleanser and wipe it with alcohol at the end of each day and get in all the nooks and crannies. It’s not a cleanliness issue/ wearing habits issue.