Fitness Trackers Can Give You A Rash – Here’s How To Prevent It

If your jewelry of choice is your smart watch, necklace, or ring, you may encounter the negative side effects of following your steps – skin rash. For those who wear well-fitting clothes and accessories such as leggings, underwear, socks and headbands every day without any problems, red spots, itching and irritation it might be a surprise. The difference between these clothes and your favorite exercise equipment? Sweat, salt, body lotion, dirt and debris can get trapped under the fabric you wear every day without washing, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The good news is that this irritation is not only treatable but also preventable. To help you combat any non-tech problems that Fitbit, Oura, Apple, or Garmin may be giving your skin, we spoke with top dermatologist Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, MD, and dermatologist and esthetician Natalie Aguilar, RN.

Why Fitness Trackers Can Cause Skin Rashes

According to Aguilar, fitness trackers can cause irritation for a variety of reasons. Another common culprit for that hand rash? Wearing a band is very difficult. A solid tablet creates friction against your skin, which will irritate you if you rub your wrist all hours of the day..

Not having enough time off to wear your tracker is another way to irritate the skin, according to Aguilar. The underside of your watch face and band provides the perfect warm, dark and moist environment for bacteria to thrive, which he says can damage your skin and sometimes cause an infection.

You’re probably also wearing your tracker while sweating during exercise, and he says the extra moisture can aggravate sensitive skin and cause heat rash. “Our skin was designed to protect our bodies from foreign substances and invaders like bacteria,” she tells Byrdie. “So, when something constantly causes friction, the acid mantle of the skin is damaged, which makes the skin more sensitive to metals, leather and plastic.”

And sometimes the clear skin is caused by a complete illness, adds Houshmand. Some fitness trackers are made of nickel, a material he says often causes an allergic condition called contact dermatitis. Many tracker cables also contain acrylates and methacrylates, which he says can cause allergic reactions.

How to Prevent Rashes from Your Fitness Tracker

The easiest solution? Give your skin a break from your fitness tracker, says Houshmand. Don’t wear it every day; if you must, make sure you give your skin time to breathe. Aguilar also advises against wearing a band that is too tight against your skin to prevent unnecessary friction. If you can’t part with your tracker, she suggests washing your hands every day to reduce the chances of a rash.

Similarly, Aguilar warns against wearing your tracker while showering or swimming to prevent the skin under your watch from getting too wet. It’s the same with excessive sweating—if you find yourself sweating profusely, she suggests you stop wearing it until your skin dries out again. If you have to keep wearing it, he has some great tips: “A little dusting of cornstarch under the watch plate does wonders. [to] absorb moisture and soothe the skin.”

Regular cleansing and dressing can also help prevent skin irritation, adds Aguilar. That way, both areas will stay as dry and bacteria-free as possible to reduce the risk of infection. Houshmand similarly recommends protecting your skin’s moisture barrier, which, when balanced, helps hold in the good stuff (like hydration) and keep out the bad stuff (like bacteria ). “Essentially, irritants strip moisture from the outer layer of the skin, which allows it to penetrate the skin and cause inflammation,” she says. “Look for moisturizers that include lipids and -ceramide. These ingredients are important to maintain the integrity of the skin barrier.”

How to Treat Rashes from Your Fitness Tracker

Hopefully, those preventative measures will ensure that you don’t have to deal with skin rashes in the first place. But if your irritation goes from bad to worse, you can do a few things to fix it, says Aguilar. The most obvious? He says, don’t wear a tracker. If your skin doesn’t come in contact with an irritant, then it won’t get more irritated.

Once you’re out of the tracker, wash the affected area with soap and warm water. If you’re looking to relieve the rash, she suggests using a small amount of 1% hydrocortisone, calamine lotion, or antihistamine cream, all of which can soothe uncomfortable itching.

Houshmand also recommends rubbing petroleum jelly on the affected skin for extra protection while you heal. According to Aguilar, continuing to wash and massage the area for three to five days should do the trick.

If you suspect an allergy is causing your skin problems, Houshmand says it’s wise to get to the bottom of your rash so you can avoid it in the future. Talk to your dermatologist about getting a skin allergy test to determine if nickel or other ingredients are the source of your discomfort.

Time to See a Dermatologist

If your skin irritation doesn’t clear up on its own after a few days despite taking steps to treat it, then it’s time to see a dermatologist, says Aguilar. If your rash comes on suddenly, starts to spread, or you have a rash or discharge, go to the skin immediately, adds Houshmand. All of these could be signs that you have a bacterial or yeast infection and need professional help, explains Aguilar.

The Last Property

Skin allergies or wearing your fitness tracker too long or too hard can contribute to irritation in the area. Fortunately, you can prevent discomfort by taking frequent breaks from wearing your tracker and keeping the area clean and dry. But if skin problems are getting worse and you need to deal with an itchy rash or unpleasant swelling, throw away your watch and use soothing anti-itch creams, moisturizing creams and barriers that A moisturizer like petroleum jelly can help your skin get back to normal. However, if your symptoms don’t clear up after a few days of taking those steps, it’s time to make an appointment with your dermatologist.