Apple watch Milanese loop band gets discolored (brownish) from normal wear. Could Aveeno skin lotion cause the band to be discolored?

You're most welcome - glad to hear it looks like new again 🙂

Hi, Peter.

I haven't had this experience myself (though I don't use Aveno).

Some thoughts:

• If the browning wipes away easily with a soft cloth, then it likely is build-up from something on the skin rather than the band itself. The band is stainless steel which isn't generally reactive with most people. Some activities can increase cellular turn-over like tanning and swimming, but I highly doubt you'd see such rapid exfoliation of the skin.
• Beyond moisturizer, body wash / soap / shampoo all leave residual traces on the skin (which is why their scent is still detectable after you wash). These could be a factor too, though I'd be surprised there would be enough left around after a shower.
• Make sure the band isn't too loose. If it's shifting around a great deal it's more likely to pick up dirt from other objects / chafe the skin and scrape off cosmetics.
• Simple isolation: Clean the band and wear it yourself. If the browning doesn't occur, you know it's not the band.
• Odd, but an option: Suggest your wife try a different moisturizer just as a test (that will rule her Aveno out). Pure Jojoba oil is non-comedogenic and can be applied directly to the skin without dilution. This would give you a clean test without adding in other chemical factors.

Hope that helps a bit,

Madison

This just happened to me this week. I was using Aveeno 24-hour relief and the inside of the Milanese Loop band turned brown where it had been touching my wrist. I tried a silver jewelry clean and polish cloth, which did not remove the stain, then I tried Carbona Silver Wipes, which just happened to be in the cupboard under the sink. They are supposed to remove tarnish on all metals and it worked. The Milanese Loop band is free of the stain. I found this post while looking for Milanese Loop discoloration to see if this has happened to anyone else, not ever imagining that I would find the Aveeno connection. Thanks for that and I hope that this helps.

I Also have the Milanese band and had it for about a month. last night I noticed dark stripes all along the band. Looks dull and old. I don't use Aveno lotion, just soap and water. Never get the watch wet. What can I use to clean the band. Not as pretty when I first got it. Little disappointed. Wear it every day. Work at a hospital as a phlebotomist and constantly washing hands with soap/water and alcohol cleaner, but watch doesn't get wet. Any ideas? Goung to Minnesota in a couple of weeks and will go to the Apple Store up there. None down here closer than 4 hr drive. Thanks for any advice.

pc755 wrote:

My wife's apple watch band keeps getting discolored

The band starts to get brown spotted which grows larger over the space of the band.

When I asked her what cosmetic products she uses she said Aveeno skin lotion.

The cleaning and care instructions for the Apple Watch and band include:

"Keep Apple Watch clean and dry. Clean Apple Watch if it comes in contact with anything that may cause stains, or other damage, such as dirt or sand, makeup, ink, soap, detergent, acids or acidic foods, or comes in contact with liquids other than fresh water, including those that may lead to skin irritation such as: sweat, salt water, soapy water, pool water, perfume, insect repellent, lotions, sunscreen, oil, adhesive remover, hair dye, or solvents."

Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion has been found to have a pH value of 5.62.

From: http://chicagoeczema.com/resource/ph-values-of-selected-moisturizers/.

A pH of 7 is neutral. Solutions with a pH value below this are acidic, with a pH difference of 1 representing a 10-fold difference in acidity level (eg a pH of 5 is 10 times more acidic than a pH of 6).

From: http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/measure/ph.html

It would be best to keep the Milanese Loop band well away from such lotions.

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Thanks, Jonathan. This explains a lot.

HI Muzzypat. Try Carbona Silver Wipes, which clean all metals or another type of stainless steel cleaner. This worked for me when the inside of my Milanese Loop turned brown.

Thanks for the info - I ordered them today.

I had the same problem with discoloration and posted before I found your question (thanks to Jonathan UK). I also used silver polish (removing the band before cleaning) and it worked very well.