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Time to read 4 min
I’ve tested a plethora of different methods of stopping watch strap irritation, and there are five methods which proved most effective at keeping my skin watch-happy.
Not only have I found these five methods incredibly reliable, they are also easy to integrate into your daily routine - let me provide you with some context on each method.
Table of contents
Before we talk about solutions, let's get to the cause. Watch irritation is often known as ‘watch rash’ which is a form of what dermatologists would refer to as ‘contact dermatitis’ which is a form of Eczema.
Contact dermatitis is usually caused by three different stimuli: allergens, irritants or friction. It's the latter that most commonly causes watch rash, however allergens from certain materials can also be a likely cause. In these five methods, we’ll be offering solutions for all three.
Easier said than done. How often do you actually clean your accessories? If you’re anything like me, then not enough. It's all about making it easy and accessible during your busy daily routine.
Perspiration occurs all day whether you like it or not, even more so if you exercise or work-out regularly. This can cause salt deposits to form and cause a rash over time, similarly a build up of bacteria can do exactly.
Simply leaving some specialised watch cleaner next to your bedside table or wherever you store your watch at night will do the trick.
Find out how to properly clean your watch here.
It’s all about finding the perfect balance between tight and loose. Too tight is simply uncomfortable and too loose can cause too much movement leading to skin chafe.
You should be aiming for your strap to be firm against your wrist with enough slack for the strap to rotate around your wrist with some light encouragement. This way it will be tight enough to avoid chafe but loose enough to avoid discomfort.
As a side-note to smart watch users, having your strap too tight won’t increase the effectiveness or accuracy of data, most if not all devices are designed to collect data on a comfortable fit.
To find out more about how tight a watch strap should be, click the link below.
If you’re like most people, you were taught to wear your watch on your non-dominant wrist. It’s time to break the rule you’ve known since you were seven years old.
Swapping wrists can avoid bacteria build-ups and any long-term rubbing throughout the day. What's more, it can easily become habitual. Simply set a reminder on your phone or smart watch for the middle of the day - after about 2 weeks, swapping your watch wrist will become habitual. You won’t even notice you’re doing it.
Integrating the cleaning of your strap during the switch is a sure way to avoid any kind of irritation from your watch strap.
"I've always worn my watch on my right hand, it was just the most comfortable side, I'd like to say it's because I like to break the rules, but really it's all about comfort."
Nickel is one of the most common allergens and my skin detests it, and yet most metal watch straps contain it. Avoiding metal straps all together is the safest best, and will save the hassle of hunting down nickel-free straps.
Initially I was stubborn to drop metal straps with the assumption that nothing else could achieve the same sense of style and class. However, leather and rubber straps can offer the same level of style with double the comfort.
My recommendation would be to use a rubber performance strap like the Hirsch Extreme during the day and during exercise, and the leather water-resistant strap like the Hirsch Heavy Calf in the evening.
Aloe vera is a natural skin moisturiser which can offer both irritation relief and moisturisation. Applying lotion just as your strap begins to cause irritation is the best time, keeping a travel size lotion in your bag is the best way to achieve this on-the-go.
Aloe vera will not only moisturise but alleviate any pain caused by irritation, as well as doubling up as an effective after-sun lotion in the summer months.
In addition to these steps, another way to add to the comfort of your watch would be to take a look at the watch itself, especially if the irritation comes from the watch case-back.
First off, although it may seem extreme, you could change the watch! Obviously this doesn't fix the problem, but the watch material itself may be the issue. Try swapping the watch for one with a different case material, like the bio-ceramic MoonSwatch, a plastic watch from Casio, or even a watch with a glass exhibition case-back to reduce the metal against your skin.
If changing your watch is out of the question, try swapping out the two-piece strap, for a one-piece strap, this change will add a layer of fabric between the watch and your skin helping reduce metal contact and add a layer of protection.
If you follow these five steps you'll be away and wearing your watch with a happy wrist again, but even if even after these five steps you’re still experiencing irritation from your watch strap please feel free to get in contact with us.
For more tricks and tips click here.
And to browse our extensive range of quality watches traps, click here.
Comments
This was helpful. I wear leather watch straps, bracelets, and rubber. Recently since I started wearing my watches again. I noticed a chaffing plus a red spot. Then another one. I think it is perspiration and chaffing as root cause for myself. Going to try some talcum on it, and the other five recommendations.
Thank you.
Smart watch cant cover anything on censors, tried stainless steel, leather, plastic types (many) latest has holes, i thought for air to get in. Nothing works, any more ideas? Else no more smart watch with body pulse, so2, jogging, all lost. About 3 years ago it started, 6 years wearing Fitbit no problems, then it started. I clean with special antibacterial solutions and they must not leave anything behind
Great tip Colin! Thanks a lot for sharing that one.
Another way of minimising irritation is to smear the underside of the watch strap with baby talc. This creates an effective barrier. Try it!
