Itchy skin and rashes? You're not the only one. The activity tracker-maker offers a full refund to all users of the device. March 12, 2014 3:58 PM PDT The Fitbit Force. (Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) Some side effects can come with activity monitoring with a Fitbit Force health tracker, but they're not sore muscles or an accelerated heart rate -- rather, they involve skin irritation around the wrist. More than 10,000 people have reported skin irritation -- including redness, rashes, itchy and dry patches, and blistering -- from their Fitbit Force, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Because of these issues, the CPSC posted Fitbit's official recall notice on its site on Wednesday. Now, all Force owners can get a full refund for their device. The $129 Force, which is an upgraded version of the popular Fitbit Flex, comes in the form of a slim rubber wristband and is wired to count users' steps and monitor their sleep. The backside of the device contains stainless steel components that use trace amounts of nickel, along with latex-free elastomer materials and adhesives. Fitbit believes the skin irritation could be coming from some users' allergies to these materials. Related stories Capture every moment with wearable cameras Whistle, the Fitbit for dogs, makes push into mainstream Fitbit halts sale of Force fitness band, issues recall due to skin irritation Apple reportedly making push in mobile health Concept combines Pebble and Fitbit into an iWatch fantasy According to the CPSC, 9,900 people reported skin irritation from the Force and 250 people reported blistering. While these numbers seem high, they're actually accounting for less than 1 percent of the devices out there -- which is pegged at 1 million in the US and 28,000 in Canada. The company announced that it stopped selling the Force and issued a voluntary recall of the device last month but didn't release details on the amount of people affected. Also, it wasn't clear if the recall extended to all users -- as it now does. To get the word out, Fitbit posted updates to its Twitter and Facebook accounts on Wednesday announcing the voluntary recall notice. CNET contacted Fitbit for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.
Itchy skin and rashes? You're not the only one. The activity tracker-maker offers a full refund to all users of the device.
The Fitbit Force.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Some side effects can come with activity monitoring with a Fitbit Force health tracker, but they're not sore muscles or an accelerated heart rate -- rather, they involve skin irritation around the wrist.
More than 10,000 people have reported skin irritation -- including redness, rashes, itchy and dry patches, and blistering -- from their Fitbit Force, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Because of these issues, the CPSC posted Fitbit's official recall notice on its site on Wednesday. Now, all Force owners can get a full refund for their device.
The $129 Force, which is an upgraded version of the popular Fitbit Flex, comes in the form of a slim rubber wristband and is wired to count users' steps and monitor their sleep. The backside of the device contains stainless steel components that use trace amounts of nickel, along with latex-free elastomer materials and adhesives. Fitbit believes the skin irritation could be coming from some users' allergies to these materials.
Related stories
- Capture every moment with wearable cameras
- Whistle, the Fitbit for dogs, makes push into mainstream
- Fitbit halts sale of Force fitness band, issues recall due to skin irritation
- Apple reportedly making push in mobile health
- Concept combines Pebble and Fitbit into an iWatch fantasy
According to the CPSC, 9,900 people reported skin irritation from the Force and 250 people reported blistering. While these numbers seem high, they're actually accounting for less than 1 percent of the devices out there -- which is pegged at 1 million in the US and 28,000 in Canada.
The company announced that it stopped selling the Force and issued a voluntary recall of the device last month but didn't release details on the amount of people affected. Also, it wasn't clear if the recall extended to all users -- as it now does.
To get the word out, Fitbit posted updates to its Twitter and Facebook accounts on Wednesday announcing the voluntary recall notice.
CNET contacted Fitbit for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.
