Your Fitness Tracker Might Be Hiding a Dirty Secret, and It’s Not About Your Step Count
Many TikTok users have shared experiences of developing rashes from wearing their smartwatches. Some discovered they had contact dermatitis, which is usually uncomfortable but clears up within a few weeks. Others experienced more severe infections.
Experts aren’t surprised that devices like Apple Watches, Fitbits, Garmins, and other activity trackers can cause skin irritation and infection. We wear them while working out, showering, sleeping, and doing other daily tasks, often neglecting to clean them regularly.
Family medicine doctor Mike Varshavski, DO, known as Dr. Mike on social media, emphasized the importance of letting your skin breathe by removing your fitness tracker. His 2022 TikTok on this topic has garnered over 5.7 million views.
How Dirty Are Fitness Trackers?
A 2023 study in Advances in Infectious Diseases examined 20 different smartwatch and fitness tracker bands, finding that 95% were contaminated with infection-causing bacteria. The study revealed that 85% of the trackers had Staphylococcus aureus (Staph aureus), 60% had E. coli, and 30% had P. aeruginosa. These bacteria can cause harmful infections in the bloodstream, bones, joints, and gastrointestinal tract.
“Even at relatively low numbers, these pathogens are of public health significance,” said Nwadiuto Esiobu, PhD, senior author and professor of biological sciences at Florida Atlantic University. “The quantity and taxonomy of bacteria we found on the wristbands show that there is a need for regular sanitation of these surfaces.”
Researchers tested plastic, rubber, cloth, leather, and metal wristbands, finding that bacteria clung most to rubber and plastic bands, with little to no bacteria present on gold or silver bands.
How to Prevent Infections from Fitness Trackers
You can reduce your exposure to bacteria with simple cleaning measures:
Regularly clean the band with common household disinfectants. The study found Lysol disinfectant spray, 70% ethyl alcohol, and apple cider vinegar to be at least somewhat effective on all fitness tracker band materials. Lysol and ethanol killed 99.99% of E. coli, Staph aureus, and P. aeruginosa after 30 seconds of contact on most bands, though plastic bands needed two minutes of contact. However, apple cider vinegar wasn’t effective on Staph aureus, even after five minutes.
It’s important to follow recommended usage times: five minutes for Lysol disinfectant spray and 10 seconds for 70% ethanol against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and S. aureus, according to the CDC.
Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. Companies like Garmin, Apple, and Fitbit provide specific cleaning and care recommendations on their websites. They emphasize not submerging trackers in cleaning products or using soaps, which can damage the device or cause further skin irritation.
Use a damp microfiber cloth to clean your watch or tracker face. Microfiber is lint-free and won’t scratch your screen.
Allow your skin to breathe. Apple Watch’s wear guide recommends wearing the watch tighter during workouts for proper sensor function and loosening it afterward. Dr. Varshavski suggests bands with holes for better airflow and circulation if a regular rubber band isn’t comfortable.
Make sure your band is fully dry before putting it back on your wrist.
If you maintain cleanliness and dryness of your tracker and band but still experience skin irritation, consult a doctor.
