A dermatologist is warning about a common reaction you may be getting from your smartwatch band.
Dr Heather Kornmehl, a Texas-based dermatologist shared a video showing a dry, irritated red rash that had developed on the inside of her wrist in response to the metal snap on her Apple Watch.
She said some people can’t tolerate certain mixtures of metal – and may experience a rash in response to copper, nickel or chromium, though it is unclear what is in the metal on the band of the Apple Watch.
It appears the Texas native is suffering from contact dermatitis – an allergic reaction of the skin which causes itchy, red rashes similar to eczema.
It can take as long as two or three days for a rash to develop after exposure to an irritant.
About 20 percent of Americans may deal with this condition stemming from a variety of irritants, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, equating to about 68million people.
Luckily, Dr Kornmehl has a solution: She suggested users with similar reactions use pimple patches to provide a barrier between the watch metal and their skin.
Smartwatches offer programs to track sleep habits, heart rate, exercise and more. The average user wears their device for 11 hours a day, according to a study published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters
Contact dermatitis can appear as a red rash, with swelling, bumps or blisters, or with dry, scaly skin. Dr Kornmehl’s rash (not pictured) appeared to be a small, circular rash with dry, flaking skin on the surface
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Roughly 21million Americans use some form of smartwatch to keep track of their exercise, monitor their notifications or get data on their sleep. On average, people wear the accessory for 11 hours per day.
The bands are waterproof and sweat proof, which means that sometimes, people’s sweat can get lodged underneath the band. Long term sweat and oil exposure can corrode some of the surface of the metal, which might make the odds of developing contact dermatitis slightly higher.
These watches are far from the only common product that may produce contact dermatitis, however. People might experience a flare up from jewelry, nail polish or even eyeglass frames.
Common triggers of contact dermatitis include nickel, chromium, cobalt chloride, copper and gold.
In the comments on her video, Dr Kornmehl mentioned copper.
Copper is commonly added to products people use every day because when it’s mixed with other metals, it can make the product stronger and more rust resistant.
The Apple Watch sells online for between $249 (£195) and $799 (£625), and traditionally comes with a smooth silicon-like band that is secured in place with metal snaps.
It’s unclear what metal blend the company uses for its snaps.
They have alternative options for bands – including nylon weaves, yarn loops and flexible elastomers – that have no metal or less metal.
These range in price roughly between $49 (£39) and $349 (£155).
But if someone doesn’t want to purchase a whole new product, Dr Kornmehl recommended a hack that just takes a quick trip to the pharmacy.
In her video, Dr Kornmehl showed how using a pimple patch, which is a small, adhesive bandage designed to draw oil out of a zit, can provide a thin barrier between the metal and your skin.
They are traditionally made of hydrocolloid, which is a durable, gel-like material with a silicon-like texture, designed to be used once on wounds.
She said wearing the patch helped heal the rash. Various brands of these patches retail online for between $7 and $22.
The Apple Watch sells online for between $249 (£195) and $799 (£625). The default band uses metal snaps to keep the product secure, but there are alternative band options available for purchase
Contact dermatitis is the type of condition that usually resolves itself when someone stops exposing themselves to their allergen, Dr Vivian Shi, a professor of dermatology at University of Washington, said.
Sometimes, though, if someone with an existing condition, like eczema, develops a metal allergy, it can make skin inflammation all over the body worse.
It’s not entirely clear why some people are sensitive to metals and others are not.
According to the National Eczema Association, when someone wears a metal product on their skin, eventually, some of the molecules may be eroded, where they’re absorbed into the body.
There, the immune system may react to the metal molecules, attacking them, causing an allergic response.
If you’re unsure if you have a metal allergy, doctors recommend going in for an appointment.
Then, once you’re sure about your risks, Dr Shi said: ‘always read product labels and if it’s not available, you can reach out to the manufacturer for more information’.
