Here’s How to Prevent Your Watch Band From Irritating Your Skin

Fitness trackers and smartwatches want to live on your wrist 24/7. You’ll want them on during a workout, of course, and then for sleep tracking, and of course you wouldn’t want to miss out on the stress readings and data displays throughout the day. But after a while of wearing a tight silicone band every minute of the day, you may find your skin starts to get red or itchy. Here are some tips on how to reduce the chances of irritation, and what you can do if you already have a rash. 

Wear your watch loosely when you’re not working out

Most makers of smartwatches and fitness trackers say that you should wear them loosely for daily wear. Fitbit, for example, writes that you should wear the band “loosely enough that it can move back and forth on your wrist” and instructs you to “Lower the band on your wrist and loosen it after exercise.”

This loose fit allows air to contact your skin as the watch moves around during the day. This way, no part of your skin gets moisture or sweat trapped against it. 

Garmin and Apple (to name a few) all say basically the same thing. During exercise, you’ll want to wear the watch snugly, above your wrist bone (so it’s at least an inch or two away from your actual wrist joint). This lets you get a nice, snug contact between the heart rate sensor and your skin. But once the workout is over, loosen the watch back to a more comfortable position. 

A good rule of thumb is that when you’re not working out, the watch should be able to move back and forth on your wrist. But during a workout, if you try to slide the watch, your skin should move with it. 

Rinse the watch band daily

Irritation can happen when sweat, moisture, or other substances (like, say, soap) get trapped against your skin. An easy way to avoid this is to take the watch off and rinse it when you’re in the shower. 

If not in the shower, then try to find some other time during the day—maybe while you’re washing your hands—to take the watch off and makes sure it’s clean. Check the care instructions that came with your device; you may be advised to not use soap. 

Consider a different material for the band

Waterproof materials like silicone tend to be the worst culprits for irritation, probably because of the way they can trap sweat and moisture against the skin. If this is an ongoing issue for you, consider a fabric watch band that breathes a little better. For example, here’s a five-pack of elastic bands that fit the Fitbit Charge 6. Whatever your device, there are probably a ton of third-party bands out there in a variety of materials. 

A pro tip, though: if you’re going to get a fabric band, get two. That way you can still wash them (or wear them in the shower or pool) and then swap for a dry one rather than wearing the soggy one for the rest of the day.

Give your skin a break if it’s already irritated

If you’ve already gotten a rash on your skin, the most important thing is to 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 probably clear up quickly. 

The one time I had some redness and itching from a Garmin strap, I immediately washed the watch and then, once it was dry, put it back on my other wrist. Yes, it feels weird to have your watch on the “wrong” wrist, but you need to give your skin a chance to heal. It’s also OK to simply not wear the watch for a while.