Sense - skin temperature shows in the negatives

[Carole_annn]

I have been wearing my sense for a week now and the skin temperature feature is in the negatives. Last night was -1.1 degrees and the night before that was -1.9 degrees. Is there a problem with my device?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject and updated label

[notdoneyet]

thank you for the very clear and definite answer.   Why do they keep the absolute temp hidden?

[LesleyE79]

Hi Drew.  Do you know how I find out my actual skin temperature during sleep, to be able to make better use of this feature?  Standard is anywhere around 33degC I’ve read, but I would like to know my actual skin temperature if possible. 

Many thanks. 

[Guy_]

Hi @LesleyE79  - you can't get actual skin temperature.

What shows in the app is only relative night skin temperature from a baseline re-evaluated over days.

The actual skin temperature is so easily varied by environmental conditions that an average is the most meaningful.

That said it is measured every minute for the 24 hours. You can export your full archive from the dashboard to get the readings but that's probably not what you want to do.

Currently there is no possibility to get an instant reading for a quick indication.

[LesleyE79]

Thank you Guy, I understand better now.

[Rufous44]

What is still unknown is the difference between the specific sensor installed on Sense and the generic one of the other trackers.

[Rikheller]

When we'll, your body is in a normal thermoregulation pattern from core (brain and organs) to skin. Core&skin relatively track. 

Fever is special immune response. For cold blooded animals feeling sick, they will seek out a very warm place and induce their own fever. But warm blooded animals can generate their own heat. To do so, the hypothalamus detects the cellular ravages of infection, then secrete hormones to increase heartrate, vasoconstrict the skin then vasodilate our our delicate core.

Get this: the fitbit has an incredible tell that we are  fever infected. That tell is that your skin temperature drops while your core temperature increases. Yes skin temperature goes cold in the fevered state.  Imagine that. 

And while that may be unbelievable,  ask yourself why when you're suffering a fever, you shiver.  QED. 

[brenley765]

How do I get one ?

[beef623]

It doesn't matter if it's instant or not, there is no point in hiding what the baseline temperature actually is and the variation data is useless without it.

[Rikheller]

I can't find how to download SPO2, Temp and HR.  Will the API do that? 

[Guy_]

Hi @Rikheller - it is done automatically when you sync the watch with the Fitbit App.

[FennC]

Hi,

Dod you manage to find a way to do this?

[Jason11]

No it’s a mine field

[Guy_]

Hi @FennC  - sync the watch and look in the Health Metrics tile in the Fitbit App.

The temperature difference from the baseline is shown.

[FennC]

Unfortunately it only shows the last 7 days

[Guy_]

@FennC  - if you want more days buy Premium. Then you get 30 days.

[FennC]

Thank you. You gave a much better answer than Fitbits support! I shan’t be buying premium until they sort out the food inaccuracies,  but that’s really useful to know thank you.

[Karber]

But where do they say what your baseline is so that u can upstand those results when they vari from the baseline. From what I can see it shows me 0.8 above baseline but I don't know what the baseline is so that means nothing to me