How can I stop trackpad from hurting/burning my fingertips?

Is the trackpad hot, or is it due to leakage current from the power supply - that is if you unplug the charger and all connected peripherals (anything that has its own power source), does the 'burning' stop happening.

If the trackpad itself is hot, the cause is likely to be either the battery or a blocked heatsink on the case fan (macbook 13' has only one case fan, and uses heat pipes to carry the het away from other components, this can backfire if the heatsink blocks with heat conducted from the hot CPU into the rest of the laptop body. Battery problem are more serious, and a good sign you should get it replaced asap.

One thing I have noticed with a lot of IT equipment is a filter in the power supply places a common-mode voltage on the equipment of half the mains supply

voltage. In my case (a 240v/50hz country) that means 120v AC at about 80uA but in 60Hz countries, like the US this leakage current will be even higher. If I operate the laptop from the charger without using the 3-pin plug, then there will be a 'buzzing' sensation from contacting any metallic or conductive surface of the machine. Running one's finger across it will feel like a rough surface.

Hi Liam, this is not the issue we are talking about. I believe a good portion of the problem is that the functionality of the trackpad and the operating system is so good that we can complete three or four times as much work on the MacBook as on other types of trackpads. I'm not sure why there isn't a better heatsink on our computers. My old MacBook 13 inch aluminum did exactly the same thing to me to a lesser extent. The reason the processor is hot is mostly from running video such as YouTube, Skype etc. Quite often when I'm Skyping lengthy conversations with my friends, We like to look at things on the web. This is when I experienced the most pain. Additionally, when I'm talking to .someone on Skype, it's more difficult to use voice recognition. It's also difficult to use voice recognition when there's anyone else in the room for any reason.

I'd like to finish typing this, but I need to correct it so many times it's hurting my fingertips. If anyone has a direct link to some gloves that actually worked, I would appreciate it :-) enter

Thanks enter

Pam, Yes there're limitations to apples voice recognition LOL

Voice recognition also heats up the processor dramatically.

Hi all,

Just adding my experience to this list. I bought a 2015 rMBP in late January 2016. Immediately started having crazy peeling of the skin on my fingertips across all ten fingers. They would peel, then crack, and become red and very painful as several layers of skin peeled off. It basically looked like I had no fingerprints.

I didn't initially suspect the rMBP was the cause, so I went to several doctors and dermatologists, and finally the derm gave me a shot of cortisone, which immediately stopped the peeling. Apparently he said this kind of peeling can be hard to stop once it starts because daily activity puts a lot of stress on your hands, so hard to rest them to heal fully, and the cortisone shot helps cut the inflammation. He suspected it was the laptop given that it affects all ten of my fingertips but no other part of my body, and so I returned the laptop, thinking maybe there was some random chemical that got on the keyboard during production, because I've had a 2013 MBA for years without problem. Bought a different rMBP, and the problem immediately returned. I've now returned that one and am waiting for the peeling to go away (it seems to take a week or two to stop).

Unlike everyone else, I suspect it was the keyboard rather than the trackpad, as it's across all of my fingertips, and I don't use the trackpad with both hands, only the right one. I also never use my pinky finger with the trackpad, but it's on all fingers. My doctor also thought it was the keyboard, as it's the only thing I touch with all ten fingertips but no other part of my hand/skin.

I called Apple and their engineering team looked into this. I thought perhaps I had an allergy to the paint on the keyboard of some component on the keyboard, but they weren't able to be specific about what chemicals comprise the keys or the paint, so I wasn't able to narrow it down. I'm planning to do patch testing with a contact dermatology specialist in the next few weeks to see if I am allergic to any common chemicals used in laptops, but otherwise am at a complete loss as to the cause of this problem. I'll report back if there seems to be any connection between an allergy to a chemical that might be used in the laptop.

In the mean time, I'm not sure what to do. I'd love to remain a Mac user, but I don't want to play finger peeling roulette any longer! I may just give up a get a PC...

Wow that's pretty extreme, not experienced the peeling. That's a lot to go through for the love of a Mac. Please stay in "touch" and let us know where this journey takes you!
For myself, I am reduced to using my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 with stylus which only affects a couple of fingers. Typing is definitely problematic as is tapping any device or even writing with a pen now.

I had the wireless track pad and loved it but I had to stop using it because my fingers got so so sensitive.

(so that rules out that it's because of the heat from the laptop)

Unfortunately, though some suggested it, I'm getting the sensitivity from the magic mouse too.

Was using the regular mouse for the last couple of years with no problems at all but within

a short time of getting the magic mouse, (new iMac so new mouse) the sensitivity is back.

Yea this seems to be an ongoing problem for many- for years!. Why hasn't Apple done anything to address it?!

I'm inclined to go along with Peggy4th's hypothesis as partway explanation.

I Just wanted to document that I am having the same problem. All the fingertips on my right hand feel as if they are burning. My entire hand is peeling and I started to lose my fingernails. I have a Mac book, iPad, and iPhone. I feel as if the burning sensation is worse after using my iPad. Right now I've been using a stylus on everything, but I forgot it at work and used my iPad without it. Immediately I felt the burning to the point I couldn't work anymore. I'm so disappointed.

I'm so sorry to hear about this ad thought I would share something with you. I found that using a stylus helps quite a bit. I've been working almost exclusively on my Samsung Galaxy Note 4. For some stupid reason I am using the MBPro for this reply and already I've got a lot of pain. Anything "touch" is terrible now :-(

Jon

Same problem but does not burn as much as feels as if I'm developing a callus from the inside of my fingers causing pressure on the bone.

Can you be more specific as what do you mean by "palm cover" from Amazon.

I had the same issue with my finger tips. Burning, tingling, raw sensation when using the trackpad on my Macbook Pro 2012. I suffered through it for 4 years, until one day when I brought my fingertips under a magnifying glass and noticed a lot of micro cuts. I finally had enough. I decided against buying the Magic Mouse because rubbing my fingertips against a surface was the last thing I wanted to do. I went with a different brand and I bought a bluetooth mouse that has a rubber scroll wheel in the center. I am pleased to say I no longer have the burning/raw sensation in my fingertips anymore. 🙂

I wondered if any Medical people had posted about burning fingers from trackpads, and did a search:

from:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Dermatology/What-causes-severe-burning-in-my-finger tips-when-using-my-Macbook-pro/show/1804…

I really feel for Users who cannot use these devices without irritation, numbness, or pain.

Millions of people use these devices, and do not have any such symptoms. Based on that it is unlikely that these computers are actually causing large scale poisoning, electrocution, or heat burning of people who are otherwise completely healthy and allergy-free. (If these computers were causing such problems, it would affect millions of users.)

What is believable is that these devices are exacerbating underlying conditions in some people -- causing those conditions to become much worse. It is also quite possible that for some Users, these symptoms are in fact Repetitive Strain Injuries (but not necessarily identical to carpal tunnel syndrome, the best known Repetitive Strain injury).

I am not lost in any forests.

I can use those devices with impunity. If they were causing most otherwise healthy people problems, they would have been withdrawn long a go.

I think you and your medical doctor should have a chat. But most of all, if these devices cause you pain, stop using them!

There are probably as many different reasons as there are people who can't use them without problems. Trying to find THE reason is pointless without including yourself in the equation.

i am fairly confident it's something electric related, or chemical, or wave related etc. some sort of physics or chemical thing. it's definitely not muscular. i can't say its heat cause my laptop never really gets hot, unless its some sort of low level weird heat, which is perhaps possible.

if any of those were true, they would be affecting everybody, not just you and the comparatively small number of people who have posted on this thread.

i would agree. i've been busy this semester at school, typing and copying and pasting quite a bit, and i use the track pad only. although, i did the same last semester and i don't remember it being this much last spring.