Allergic Reaction or Band too Tight?

[ZisKnow]

Have had my new Fitbit Sense2 on for around 36 to 48 hours and my wrist, oarticularly where the watch makes contact has become incredibly itchy and the skin is sore.

I'm trying to work out if it's a problem with the fitbit itself (I'm sensitive to nickle-copper alloys) or if it's because the largest band is a bit too tight as it s squeezing my skin.

Have been trying to find a larger band but nothng seems suitable (ideally need something soft and breathable but will cope with swimming)

[LZeeW]

Hello @ZisKnow and welcome to the Community.  The sensors are for the ECG and EDA scans.  They are stainless steel, which has traces of nickel.

[ZisKnow]

Thanks, stainless steel isn't an issue for me, specifically it's nickle coated copper or a cupronickle allow used in cheap jewelery.

Does suggest that my issue is a too tight band with non breathable material though.

[honkerdown]

My experience is two-fold:

1. If I wear the Sense 2 too tight, my skin will become somewhat irritated, especially if I am sweating a lot.
2. I found that if I switch my Sense 2 to my other wrist while sleeping, it gives the skin on my main wrist a rest.

[Rich_Laue · Accepted solution]

@ZisKnow all stainless steel has a little nickel in it Fitbit goes by the EU Standard for medical grade stainless steel used for implants. The USA allows for more nickel which was the reason for Fitbit's first recall of the Force 

When wearing the watch the user should be able to easily slip 1-2 fingers under the band. This allows for air circulation and the evaporation of moisture. Fitting during an exercise, the user may want to tighten the band by a notch. Also any trapped soap will become an irritant. A soap free cleanser (like Citaphil) should be used. 

At the bottom of every page you will find a link to the Wear and Care document 

@honkerdown a few users have reported that there bands have smelled like a locker room. This is from bacteria in sweat buildup and usually the source of the irritation. Even when the band doesn't smell, there may be bad bacteria. Note that we all have good bacteria on our skin 

[ZisKnow]

Thanks, band is way too tight then, guess I'm hunting for an ankle band size then.