I got my FR235 on 12/26/15 and a few days ago my wrist seemed very itchy and irritated. I had been absent-mindedly scratching at it all day and when I took off the watch to check it out, found patches of little red bumps around my wrist. Some under the watch and much more under the band. I have taken the watch off for the last two days and the bumps are still very red and itchy. I should note that about every other day I use a washcloth to clean the band with soap and water, which is what I had to do with my Fitbit Charge HR. I have the frost blue over/black under band. Has anyone else had this trouble or is there some other cleaning method I should be using?
This rash is most likely a pressure rash/ulcer. I wore the watch on the other wrist while the wound healed.
Not very happy about it, however. I have to make a trade-off between getting accurate HR data (by wearing the watch tightly) and risking recurrent ulcers. I also don't know what the health implications of recurrent ulcers on my wrist may be (e.g. Marjolin ulcer).
Given that I am young and fit, I have no problems with ulcer healing; however, for the older folks and people prone to infection and poor wound healing (e.g. diabetes), I can definitely see how this could pose a major medical problem.
I wonder if Garmin has given this any thought :confused:
I hope they do think about it, i have rheumatoid arthritis and heart issues, my immune system is shot.
I have red spots in groups from where my watch sits all the way up my forearm. Not as itchy as before but still there.
I mostly use the watch as a day watch and to check my HR and steps. Sitting at a desk for 12 hours a day is not great so i use the watch as a tool and i suppose a game to reach the 10000 steps. Watch is great apart from the bugs.
I am trying it back on my regular wrist to see if it is the cause of the red bumps. If it is, I'm going to have to return it, because I have a couple of other issues with it (that I am grudgingly accepting for the sake of utility) and this will push my acceptable issue threshold beyond the "keeping it" point. Keeping my fingers crossed though....
Marsala 235, except for three different (not concurrent) nights, have been wearing 24/7 since Christmas Day.
I'm no Wookie, but I do have moderately hairy arms. Coupled with sensitive skin in general, I experienced similar itchiness and irritation the first full week or so that I wore it. I have since realized I was wearing it too tight when not exercising, and the stretchy band was pulling out hairs and irritating my skin. I am still wearing it tight enough to leave an indentation from the HRM, but it is causing much less irritation. How loose is right for you? I don't know. What I found works for me is to go into a dark bathroom or other room, and unclasp the watch. Putting the watch on my arm approximately 1.5-2 inches (3.75-5 cm) from the bend in my wrist, I find a comfortable loose setting (can EASILY see green glow from LEDs) and tighten one notch at a time until I can just NO LONGER SEE the green light from the LEDs peeking out from under the watch. I have found that this does not cause any irritation throughout the day, and at night, I can just slide the watch a little closer to my wrist and it is not uncomfortable to sleep wearing. Occasionally, the green light from the LEDs just BARELY peeks out, and only if I bend my wrist a lot, so I figure I am still getting good overnight HR readings (or as good as you can with current FW, as described/discussed at length in other threads-consequently, last night I tried the 'Broadcast HR' mode and my RHR was a full 8 BPM lower than my average for the last week and a half!) since there isn't external light interfering with the LEDs.
I have exactly the same issue (red band though). I now limit wearing the device to training only, alternate wrists and I am using cortisone cream to treat the rash. Real shame that the device cannot be used as an activity tracker. Garmin should develop and sell improved wrist bands.
Every now and then I get a few itchy bumps under my watch; It's almost definitely contact dermatitis. It's not too bad and usually goes away after a day.
I had similar issues with the red spots on the wrist when I started using the wrist band. So, for the first few days upto a week or two if I am not running, I loosen it a tad bit to let my skin breath, and get use to the foreign object touching it for the first time. Initially, it would itch and feel irritated. But, with time the body understand the change and its completely normal now. I can wear it tight/light all day long. No more irritation. I am sure if I wear it on the other wrist I'll have to go through the same ordeal again. But, I think its good to give your skin some time to adjust with the new object. Not wearing it might not help, but keeping it loose once a while shall help making your skin adapt to the new foreign object. I think thats the beauty of human body to be able to adapt to new things/environment.
