Your fitness tracker probably has a dirty little secret, and it’s not about the number of steps you take.
Several TikTok users took to the platform to share that they had developed rashes as a result of wearing their smartwatches. Some discovered they had a connection Dermatitiswhich can be uncomfortable but will likely go away within two weeks. Others have had more serious injuries.
Experts say it’s no surprise that Apple Watches, Fitbits, Garmins, and other activity trackers can cause skin irritation and infection, since we wear them while exercising, showering, sleeping, and during other daily tasks and likely don’t clean them. As much as we should.
Family medicine physician Mike Varshavsky, known as Dr. Mike On social media, A. posted: Tik Tok In 2022 — viewed more than 5.7 million times — about the importance of taking off your fitness tracker and letting your skin breathe to prevent irritation and infection.
@doctormike Apple Watch wearers beware ⌚️#apple #Apple_Watch #skin care ♬ original sound – Dr. Mike
How dirty are fitness trackers?
A 2023 Stady Published in the magazine Advances in infectious diseases The researchers examined 20 different smartwatches and fitness trackers and found that 95% of them were contaminated with infection-causing bacteria.
The researchers found that 85% of the tracers tested were infected with Staphylococcus aureus, 60% were infected with E. coli, and 30% were infected with P. aeruginosa. Simply put, they were carrying bacteria that can cause harmful infections in the bloodstream, bones, joints and digestive system.
“Even in relatively low numbers, these pathogens are of public health importance,” he said. Nwadioto Esiobu, Ph.D., senior author and professor of biological sciences at Charles E. Schmidt Sciences at Florida Atlantic University, in press release About the study.
“The amount and classification of bacteria we found on the wristbands shows that there is a need to disinfect these surfaces on a regular basis.”
Researchers tested plastic, rubber, cloth, leather and metal bracelets to see the relationship between the material and the amount of bacteria present. Bacteria tended to stick to rubber and plastic bands the most, with little or no bacteria found on bands made of gold or silver, according to the study.
How to help prevent infections from fitness trackers
You can reduce your exposure to bacteria with simple cleaning procedures.
Clean the band with common household disinfectants regularly
The study found that Lysol disinfectant spray, 70% ethyl alcohol, and apple cider vinegar were at least somewhat effective across all fitness tracker materials.
Lysol and ethanol killed 99.99% of E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria after 30 seconds of contact on most tapes, although plastic tapes required 2 minutes of contact. However, apple cider vinegar was not effective on Staphylococcus aureus, even after five minutes.
It is important to note that for the bacteria identified, the recommended application time for Lysol disinfectant spray is five minutes, as set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Find 70% ethanol is effective against P. aeruginosa and E. coli and S. aureus after 10 seconds.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the equipment.
Companies like Garmin, appleAnd Fitbit List their cleaning and care recommendations on their sites. Both of them stress the importance of not immersing tracking devices in cleaning products or using soap, as they can get stuck inside the device and lead to it malfunctioning or causing further skin irritation.
Use a damp microfiber cloth to clean the face of your watch or tracker
Microfiber is lint-free and will not scratch your screen.
Allow your skin to breathe
Apple watch Wear guide She recommends wearing the watch more tightly during exercise (so the sensors can work properly to track things like heart rate) and loosening it after your workout is complete.
“You want more air circulation, less moisture trapping, and less skin friction,” Varshavsky said on his TikTok account. He also recommends trying bands with holes for more airflow and improved circulation if a regular elastic band isn’t comfortable.
You should also make sure that your bracelet is completely dry before putting it back on your wrist.
If you’re doing everything you can to keep your tracker and band clean and dry and your skin is still irritated, see a doctor.