Apple Watch non-ionising radiation is causing burn marks and blisters on users' arms?

The title statement is a speculative allegation! 😊It took me about five minutes of research to figure out what might be happening in respect of reports in the news media that thousands of people with Apple watches are reporting burn marks on their wrists after wearing the device for extended periods sometimes over many years. I am speculating in a reasonable way I'd argue.

Is the Apple Watch burning some long-term users with low-level radiation? Image: MikeB

They have contacted Apple who have told them that it is probably an allergy and that they should clean their watches more often.

In other words, Apple is brick-walling its customers which is unsatisfactory. 😎

My immediate instinct was that the Apple Watch is emitting radiation of some sort. My research indicates that it emits non-ionising radiation which is low level radiation but of a type which can excite molecules and atoms causing them to vibrate.

Further research tells me that the ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) recommends that the maximum exposure limit for non-ionising radiation is 2 W per kilogram (watts per kg) and the Apple Watch emits radiation at a rate of 0.17 W per kilogram which is well below the safe limit.

Therefore on the face of it there can be no radiation problem causing burns or blisters as described by thousands of customers. However, my guess is, that either the radiation levels emitted by the Apple Watch have become greater because of upgrades or because the more modern watch is more powerful than the former watches and the full level of radiation emitted from them has not been disclosed to the authorities. My guess is something like that has happened.

My conclusion, therefore, is that these customers are experiencing radiation burns. A customer wrote on Apple's community forums: "I've had my watch for over two years and have only recently started getting burn marks on my arm from wearing it."

Another customer said: "This happened to me too for the first time last night! I've been wearing my watch for almost 3 years now. I woke up when it happened and felt that my watch was very hot. My skin turned leathery over the reddened part."

Many said that they have been rebuffed by Apple. The complaints are from 2020 up to and including January 2024. On one of the forums called "Apple Watch sensor burns" more than 1,500 people have clicked the "me too" button to indicate that they too have experienced the same problem.

Please share your thoughts in a comment. Have you experienced burns and what is your theory as to the cause?

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.