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heart rate sensor over tattoos

the heart rate is very erratic over my tattooed wrists! anyone else having issues with this? or any fixes, i heard a epoxy sticker on the back helps the apple watch?

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Garmin - Chris over 4 years ago +3 verified

I am sorry you are having issues with the OHR sensor on top of your tattoos. I have had customers report an issue but it has been an uncommon conversation. Tattoos can interfere with the LED light being…
trux over 1 year ago in reply to David +2

David said:
sensors won't work with my tattoos so the watch is useless to me. Would have been nice knowing this before I bought the watch for £320.

Well, it is a well known, documented fact, and logical…

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+1 Garmin - Chris over 4 years ago

I am sorry you are having issues with the OHR sensor on top of your tattoos. I have had customers report an issue but it has been an uncommon conversation. Tattoos can interfere with the LED light being used to get a reading of your optical heart rate.

This support article goes into more detail on how "Skin Tone May Affect Heart Rate Accuracy":

- The Heart Rate Sensor on My Garmin Watch Is Not Accurate

0 David over 1 year ago

I have the Garmin Instinct 2 solar and I have colour tattoos on both arms where the watch need to be and it just doesn't work. I contacted Garmin and they replied saying the sensors won't work with my tattoos so the watch is useless to me. Would have been nice knowing this before I bought the watch for £320.

0 trux over 1 year ago in reply to David

David said:
sensors won't work with my tattoos so the watch is useless to me. Would have been nice knowing this before I bought the watch for £320.

Well, it is a well known, documented fact, and logical consequence that optical sensor needs to see through the skin, in order to be able to detect the pulse. On Garmin's website it is mentioned on many places - for example here: The Effect Tattoos Have on Optical Heart Rate Sensor Performance | Garmin Support, Garmin Watch Optical Heart Rate Accuracy Tips | Garmin Customer Support

You still have couple of options: you could wear the watch a bit higher on the forearm, or on the inner wrist, assuming you do not have the tattoo everywhere. You could have laser-erased a small window for the sensor. Or you can use a chest strap HRM.