When you start wearing your desired fitness tracker 24/7, it is highly possible you will come across an uncomfortable rash on your wrist, especially if you don’t keep your hygiene in check. However, you can avoid such issues to a large extent and enjoy tracking your everyday health. Rest assured, skin issues are not dependent on the premium hypoallergenic materials used nowadays.  

Common Causes for Skin Irritation With Wearable Devices in Healthcare Segment

1. Bacteria Accumulated in the Strap

“The usually harmless bacteria can get into the skin, with regular friction under these devices…Once there it can cause infections such as boils or a painful rash”, mentions dermatologist, Dr. Nicole Chiang from the University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust.

A fitness tracker’s strap can easily be a breeding ground for bacteria. If it has a long battery life, you will inevitably wear it for a week or two until it requires charging. With fewer chances to wash the wrist routinely, the germs will accumulate more and more causing skin soreness.

2. Irritant Contact Dermatitis 

Irritant contact dermatitis is a non-allergic skin reaction. Soap causes it. If you are among those who wear your fitness tracker while taking a shower, the lather will be stuck under the band. This will lead to skin redness and even swelling for days, in certain cases.

3. Miliaria

Many people are affected by miliaria during summers. Rashes develop underneath the clothes and it hurts when they are scratched.  When you tightly strap the band to your wrist, the sweat ducts get jammed. Shortly, with this uncomfortable skin condition, the skin underneath appears red and becomes painful when the strap is tightened.

4. Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Dermatologists around the world have found out that nickel causes allergic contact dermatitis. Nickel is present in stainless steel, which is a common alloy of most fitness trackers’ exterior casings. The skin rash caused by this element can spread to other parts of the body as well. 

Many wearable devices in the healthcare market including the ones by World of PLAY have minimal traces of nickel in their stainless steel bodies.  This ensures contact allergies are kept at bay.

Avoid Skin Problems With the Available Wearable Devices in Healthcare Market

Whether you have allergies or not, these are the best ways to avoid any skin condition when you wear a fitness tracker:

1. Don’t Wear the Fitness Tracker for an Extended Time

 “It’s important to allow your skin to breathe by not wearing [wearables] for long, extended periods of time”, states consultant dermatologist and spokesperson for British Skin Foundation, Dr. Anjali Mahto.

Especially during the summers, you can take it off for some time in the day so that you don’t suffer from ‘heat rashes’. You can also try wearing it on both hands, alternating once or twice a day.

2. Don’t Buckle the Straps too Tight

Dr. Mahto also mentions those who have eczema should not go for ‘tight-fitting’ clothing and accessories. The inflammatory skin can flare up by wearing them too tight.

The straps of all our fitness trackers are made from breathable hypoallergenic material. They are sweat-resistant and do not come off even when you loosely tighten the buckle.

3. Keep Cleaning the Wearable

It is important to clean the device from time to time. You will find plenty of anti-bacterial solutions at your nearest stores. Just get one of those and use it. Avoid wearing the smartwatch when you shower even if it is water-resistant. Remember washing your wrist with soap. Dry your hands before you wear it again.

Find the Best Available Wearable Devices in Healthcare Market and Use Correctly

Wearing a fitness tracker round-the-clock should not be an issue when you follow the aforementioned steps carefully. But if you have allergies, it won’t hurt to ask your nearby dermatologist who can tell you what materials suit your skin. To stay updated with your daily physical activities without skin problems, do check out our advanced fitness trackers.  They are extremely comfortable to sport.