Skip to main content

Bubbling burns and annoying rashes plague some Apple Watch users

Apple Watch Wrist
Giuseppe Costantino/Shutterstock
Wearables bring technology closer to our bodies than any other devices in recent memory. Since wearables are always on your body, they can also accidentally harm you or irritate your skin. The most recent wearable to turn on its users is the Apple Watch. Apparently, a number of users are reporting burns from the device itself, as well as unsightly rashes.

One Apple Watch user named Paula Cerutti told the publication Fusion that she started to feel like something was burning her wrist about an hour into her workout. She figured her Apple Watch Sport was strapped on too tightly, and loosened the band to give her wrist some breathing room. Later that night, Cerutti found bubbling blisters on her wrist where the Apple Watch had been, and the Watch was hot to the touch.

She complained about the incident on Twitter, added a picture, and stated that Apple hadn’t been helpful when she reported the issue.

Other Apple Watch users, including an iOS developer, experienced similar burns and posted pictures of their injuries on Twitter or Instagram. Some are not sure if the Apple Watch is burning their skin or they are simply getting a rash from the friction of the device and the band. Rashes from wearables, especially those with silicon bands, are not uncommon. Fitbit users have had the same problems for years.

Apple has yet to address the issue of burns specifically, though it does mention skin irritation and rashes on its support page for the Apple Watch. The company recommends taking a break from the device and loosening the band to give your wrist more room to breathe. Of course, if the watch itself is burning users, that’s another problem entirely that’s much more serious and can’t be resolved with a simple loosening of the band.

We’ll keep you updated on the story, if Apple responds.

Editors' Recommendations

Malarie Gokey
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…
Why you shouldn’t buy these 5 Apple Watch Series 9 alternatives
A person wearing the Apple Watch Series 9, showing the Snoopy watch face

Nike Globe watch face Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Not only are there a lot of smartwatches and fitness bands to choose from these days, but the Apple Watch range itself is surprisingly extensive — especially considering it began life with only a single model available. Simply put, it remains the best smartwatch to get if you own an iPhone.

Read more
Apple may have delayed a critical Apple Watch upgrade
Smart Stack on the Apple Watch Series 9.

It seems Apple’s highly anticipated display upgrades, especially for the Apple Watch, will have to wait a few more years. According to Bloomberg, Apple has shuttered in-house efforts to design and develop microLED panels that would have appeared on its smartwatches — and eventually more products down the road.

The current-gen Apple smartwatches rely on an OLED panel, but Apple has been eyeing microLED screens for the Apple Watch's future iterations. These in-house panels, which would have offered “brighter and more vibrant visuals,” were ultimately put on cold ice due to cost and complexity concerns.

Read more
Why you shouldn’t buy a new Apple Watch right now
The curved screen on the Apple Watch Series 9.

It has been over six months since the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 launched, and they are still considered two of the best smartwatches on the market. However, there are two significant reasons why you might not want to purchase either of these models.

Those reasons are the Apple Watch Series 8 and the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra. That's right — buying a 2022 Apple Watch over the newer models might be a better choice for you.
Why now's a great time to buy an old Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 9 (top) and Apple Watch Series 8 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Read more