It was thirteen months ago that we heard the first reports of serious skin problems caused by the Fitbit Force wristband. Since then, Fitbit has introduced a new generation of trackers and fitness watches, adding a pretty strong warning label to them about the possibility of allergic reactions. The new batch of products has led to a new batch of complaints.
One group of co-workers are well positioned to notice common problems with the new trackers, since they all received them from their employer as a holiday gift. Two people in the same office noticed rashes on the wrist where they wear the tracker, and took their concerns to TV station KGO. They say that they contacted Fitbit, the company apologized and asked whether the users needed to see a doctor.
Fitbit explained to KGO’s Michael Finney in a statement that the company changed factors that they suspected caused skin irritation issues with the Force: they used less of a certain adhesive, and the new trackers also contain less nickel than the Force. Users are also warned that wearing the band too tight or getting moisture under it may cause skin problems. Yet the people complaining to KGO of issues say that they kept their wrists clean, their bands loose, and their skin dry. Users of both new bands, the Charge and Surge, complain of skin irritation.
If you encounter problems with a fitness tracker of any brand, contact the company with your complaints, and be sure to file an incident report with the Consumer Products Safety Commission.
7 ON YOUR SIDE: FITBIT RELEASES NEW TRACKERS, RASH PROBLEM REMAINS [KGO]
by Laura Northrup via Consumerist
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