Tattoos on the wrist can interfere with the proper functioning of smartwatches. For instance, there have been cases where the Apple Watch couldn’t accurately measure heart rate due to the user’s wrist tattoo.
Sensor Measurement Issues
A viral TikTok video, viewed 3.5 million times, shows a user deciding to remove their wrist tattoo with a laser for €380. According to experts, various manufacturers’ smartwatches use photoplethysmography to measure heart rate and other health indicators.
These devices operate using sensors with red and green LED lights. If the skin has tattoos, dye, or other marks, the device cannot reliably collect data. Therefore, wrist tattoos can indeed be incompatible with smartwatches. Apple also notes that “permanent or temporary changes to your skin” can interfere with the watch’s sensors and affect its performance.
User Experiences and Solutions
In the TikTok video, the user explains how they resolved the issues caused by their wrist tattoo. By removing the tattoo with a laser for €380, the user ensured their smartwatch could take accurate measurements. Such experiences highlight important considerations for tattooed individuals using smartwatches.
In conclusion, wrist tattoos can impede the proper functioning of smartwatch sensors. Tattooed users may need to explore various solutions to enhance their device’s performance.