How to prevent your watch band from irritating your skin
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Fitness trackers and smartwatches want to stay on your wrist 24/7. Of course you want to wear them during exercise and then for sleep tracking, and of course you don’t want to miss out on the stress measurements and data displays throughout the day. But if you wear a tight silicone band every minute of the day, your skin may start to turn red or itch. Here are some tips on how to reduce the risk of irritation and what to do if you already have a rash.
Wear your watch loosely when not exercising
Most manufacturers of smartwatches and fitness trackers say that you should wear them loosely in everyday life. FitbitFor example, he writes that you should wear the band “so loosely that it can move back and forth on the wrist” and instructs to “let the band down on the wrist and loosen it after exercise.”
This loose fit allows air to come into contact with your skin when the watch is moved during the day. This way no part of your skin is blocked by moisture or sweat.
Garmin And Apple (just to name a few) all basically say the same thing. While exercising, you should wear the watch comfortably over your wrist bone (at least one to two inches from your actual wrist). This gives you a comfortable and comfortable contact between the heart rate sensor and your skin. But once the workout is over, loosen the watch back into a more comfortable position.
A good rule of thumb is: If you are not When exercising, the watch should be able to move back and forth on your wrist. However, if you try to move the watch during exercise, your skin should move with it.
Rinse the watch band daily
Irritation can occur when sweat, moisture, or other substances (e.g. soap) get stuck on your skin. An easy way to avoid this is to take off the watch and rinse it when you shower.
If you’re not in the shower, try to find another time during the day – perhaps while you’re washing your hands – to take the watch off and make sure it’s clean. Check the care instructions included with your device. You may be advised to do so not Use soap.
Consider using different material for the band
Waterproof materials like silicone tend to be the worst culprits of irritation, probably because they can trap sweat and moisture on the skin. If this is a persistent problem for you, consider a fabric strap that breathes a little better. For example, here is one Pack of five elastic bands that fit the Fitbit Charge 6. Whatever your device, there are probably a lot of third-party wristbands available made from a variety of materials.
A pro tip: If you want to get a fabric ribbon, get two. This way you can still wash them (or wear them in the shower or pool) and then swap them out for a dry one instead of wearing the soaked one the rest of the day.
Give your skin a break if it’s already irritated
If you already have a rash on your skin, the most important thing is to do this Stop wearing the watch while you wait for it to heal. If you take a break from your watch at the first sign of irritation, it will likely improve quickly.
Once when I experienced redness and itching from a Garmin band, I immediately washed the watch and then put it back on my watch once it was dry other Wrist. Yes, it feels strange to wear the watch on the “wrong” wrist, but you need to give your skin a chance to heal. It’s also okay to simply not wear the watch for a while.
