I'm NEVER allergic! ...'til now
3I recently bought an inexpensive “smart watch” from from a certain daily deal website that rhymes with “eh.” It came with 2 watchbands, a attractive tan “vegan leather” one, and a black rubber one. The watch is pretty good especially considering the favorable price point.
I wore it for probably three days especially interested in the sleep monitoring function. The first night it didn’t record any sleep, the second night just 3 or 4 hours. The third night I kind of cinched it up snugly and it again, didn’t catch my sleep cycle.
I still like the the reading texts and messages on the watch tho…but I took the watch off for a breather.
It’s been about 3 days and my wrist is still showing a rash from the vegan leather band.
I’ve never had an allergic reaction before in my life! I wish to turn this particular medical question over to the citizenry of the meh forum however.
What do I do for this?
- 6 comments, 9 replies
- Comment
I had this happen when I wore a watch for several days and nights. Maybe you just have sensitive skin. Let it heal up and alternate wrists day/night? Or get a better band.
@sammydog01 Yeah, the 72 hour marathon didn’t do me much good, I’m sure. I switched the band for the black rubber one provided and am wearing it on my left wrist now.
Thanks for the tips!
The other possibility is that something got under the band. Had that happen at an event 2 years ago. I had to go by cortisone cream and benadryl. best check is if it comes back next time you wear it.
@Cerridwyn Thank you! I’m going to go get some cortisone cream I suppose. I have some generic Benedryl already :choo:
@werehatrack Goodness! That long huh? I might get some latex tape or something after this is over and experiment. For now, I suppose the cream will do.
@cfg83 Wow, you must come from an acidic part of the country! I do like vinegar for cleaning my humidifier and more edible as present in Italian dressing for garden tomatoes…but not on my (now apparently) “delecate” skin.
Thanks for the feedback y’all!
/showme the acid planet that the goat cfg83 hails from
@therealjrn Here’s the image you requested for “the acid planet that the goat cfg83 hails from”
@mediocrebot @therealjrn Yeah, Venus is for wimps.
After similar adventures, I’ve learned that the only acceptable band materials for me are metal, leather, silicone rubber, and some fabric. What you’ve experienced looks like a classic instance of contact dermatitis, and it can take as much as a month to fully heal. Some people will have that level of reaction to latex rubber in as little as an hour. You can probably guess where some common examples are found, but one of the nastier obscure ones is in the latex-based adhesive that is sometimes used for ostomy bags. Latex is also used to construct the theatrical prosthetics used in stage and screen, and the constant contact with it can produce scarring.
@werehatrack ibid!
(Say with russian comedian accent)
In america, people eat vegan watchbands. In aMEHrica, vegan watchbands eat you!
If I had that rash, then I would use rubbing alcohol and/or vinegar to try to heal it, but I am not very smart, so don’t do what I suggest.
I get knock-off inifinite-adjustable “metal-braid” bands from e-bay, because they’re cheap and INFINITELY adjustable.
I infused the watch and with the essence of mountain juniper pollen from central Texas.
Apologies couldn’t help myself.
/giphy mountain juniper pollen
@f00l Oh bless you! That which doesn’t kill me makes me stronger!
I’ve gotten woven bands for my Fitbit from this site - the woven ones let some air in so your skin can breathe.
https://strapsco.com/shop/
This type of thing:
https://strapsco.com/?s=Woven+bands&post_type=product
@Kyeh Thank you! I’ll check them out!
@Kyeh @therealjrn
FWIW I use woven elastic bands on my Apple Watch. And those silicone bands in other watches.
So far no prob.
@f00l @Kyeh I’m hopeful that the black “rubber” band might be silicone. But since the watch was so inexpensive I’m not going to hold my breath.
Since the durn thing doesn’t seem to track sleep that well, that’ll make it easier to take breaks at night from it.
I have to measure to see what size band I’m shopping for, that band site @Kyeh has some interesting options!