Fitbit: Wearing your tracker for too long may cause a rash

Last year Fitbit recalled its Force fitness tracker after complaints that it was giving some users a rash. The Fitbit Charge and Surge were both recently released as a replacement of sorts, and once again users started complaining about developing a rash. Despite having denied any wrongdoing before, Fibit has admitted rashes might happen.

According to Digital Trends, every Charge or Surge fitness tracker comes with a warning attached:

“Prolonged contact may contribute to skin irritation or allergies in some users,” the disclaimer reads. “If you notice any signs of skin redness, swelling, itchiness, or other skin irritation, please discontinue use or wear the product clipped over a piece of clothing.”

Fitbit has said that the rashes in the Force were caused by the concentration of nickel in the band, and pledged to reduce the amount of the metal in future products. Clearly that didn’t work quite as well as it hoped. The company also released a statement saying that rashes could also be causes by sweat or soap between the band and the users skin, recommending that people loosen, or take their bands off every once in a while.

Taking it off does sort of defeat the purpose a bit, and I am finding myself wondering how accurate the heartrate monitor on the Charge HR and Surge will be if you’re wearing it over a piece of clothing. But, if you’re someone who went out and bought one of the new trackers there doesn’t seem to be much else you can do other than try and return it.