Thousands of people with Apple Watches are reporting mystery burn marks on their wrists after wearing their devices for extended periods.
Customers have complained on Apple’s website about the issue and the company’s handling of complaints. Many posted pictures of their injuries, which ranged from areas of red skin to seeping blisters. Lots of the reports on Apple’s community forums have common themes — circular burns that apparently appeared at random.
One customer wrote: “I’ve had my watch for over two years and have only recently started getting burn marks on my arm from wearing it.” Another said: “This happened to me too for the first time last night! I’ve been wearing my watch for almost three years now. I woke up when it happened and felt that my watch was very hot. My skin turned leathery over the reddened part.”
The watch can use green LEDs to detect the amount of blood flowing under the skin
GETTY
Many said they had been rebuffed by Apple, told that it was an allergy problem or that they should have cleaned their watch more often. One wearer wrote: “Got an email so far on how to clean the watch … They called it an ‘allergic reaction’. On what? The mark was exactly under one of the sensors.”
Another who reported wearing an Apple Watch “for years without an issue” before a painful red mark appeared said he was “surprised by how widespread this issue appears to be and Apple’s apparent lack of support and concern”. Some who complained said they did not believe the marks were an allergic reaction and claimed doctors had confirmed they were burns.
The complaints range from 2020 up to and including this month. On one of the forums, called “Apple Watch sensor burns”, more than 1,500 people have clicked the “me too” button to indicate that they experienced the same problem.
The Times was alerted to the problem by an Apple customer who claimed he received a burn mark months after buying his latest watch.
Eric Wilton, 74, of Islington, north London, said: “Originally, I presumed it was a rash. I changed my strap and wore the watch looser but this made no difference. The red mark is now flaking, so it’s very reminiscent of sunburn.”
The watches, which can monitor a wearer’s heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep patterns and activity levels, use green LEDs to detect the amount of blood flowing under the skin. More recent models also have built-in electrodes in the back and crown. Some of the forum complaints said the burn marks appeared after their watches received a software update.
Apple has been contacted for comment but has not provided a response.
Jessica Irvine is a tech enthusiast specializing in gadgets. From smart home devices to cutting-edge electronics, Jessica explores the world of consumer tech, offering readers comprehensive reviews, hands-on experiences, and expert insights into the coolest and most innovative gadgets on the market.
