Flex computers and video games

4 reports to CPSC, the latest made Aug 15, 2017. A report isn’t a recall.

Watch it to hear when CPSC publishes new reports about it. CPSC’s own search

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.

At a glance

From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.

4reports to CPSC
Aug 15, 2017the latest report was made
May 9, 2015the earliest
4with the company’s comments

Brand: Flex
Maker: Fitbit, IncMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
Product: Computers and video gamesComputers, their equipment and electronic gamesCPSC’s product type: Computers (Equipment and Electronic Games) (code 557), in Electronics: Computers, Monitors, Projectors

By month

1 report from September 2016 to August 2017; the most in August 2017, 1. 3 earlier reports, since May 2015, are in the table.

The numbers, as a table

Reports to CPSC by the month each was made, newest first
Month	Reports
August 2017	1
April 2016	1
March 2016	1
May 2015	1

How badly anyone was hurt

Seen by a doctor or nurse 1 CPSC: Injury, Seen by Medical Professional
First aid 1 CPSC: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
Hurt, no treatment 1 CPSC: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
Hurt, care not known 1 CPSC: Injury, Level of care not known

As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.

The reports, as CPSC published them

Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.

Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.

CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

Hurt, no treatment
Made Aug 15, 2017, sent to the company Aug 23, 2017, published by CPSC Sep 7, 2017

The product, in the report: Fit Bit Flex exercise tracker

I too have the “fit bit rash”. I had worn my fit bit FLEX for about two and a half years and then the rash started. I had tried different types of bands but nothing seemed to help. I agree with others that it seems to be a burn and I had long suspected it was a result of the battery., While some suggest not wearing it 24/7, isn’t that the point....if you take it off, you sometime forget to put it back on. I am now wearing a mole skin on the battery but will need to find a different product because Fit Bit has let you down....

Model
Flex
Bought from
Target
Bought
Sep 9, 2015
Where
Havertown, Pennsylvania: Other
Who was involved
Female
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand Flex, made or sold by Fitbit, Inc
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received

The company’s comments, in its own words

(9/7/2017) Fitbit, Inc: Fitbit is aware that skin irritation affects a very limited number of consumers who use wearable devices all day and all night from sweat, water, or soap being held against the skin under the device, or from pressure or friction against the skin. We encourage users to follow our wear and care instructions, available at www.fitbit.com/productcare. If any users are experiencing skin irritation we encourage them to remove the device to give their wrist a rest. If symptoms persist longer than 2-3 days after removing the device, users should contact a dermatologist/their doctor. Fitbit takes every complaint very seriously. If you have provided contact information, a Customer Support agent will contact you within 7 days. Otherwise please contact us at support@fitbit.com.

CPSC report 20170815-D8CF4-2147398119. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
First aid
Made Apr 7, 2016, sent to the company Apr 15, 2016, published by CPSC Apr 29, 2016

The product, in the report: First generation fitbit flex

Fitbit flex caused skin irritation multiple times (red and raised) appears like a burn or rash in area only under where the battery sits. I have found that when I took apart the wrist band that it was actually growing mould in it as well. The water sits in the wrist band as it gets in under the battery and can not be dried properly after washing your hands each time. I have pictures of the chemical type burn and mould in the wrist band.

Model
fb401
UPC
IC:8542a-fb401cc
Serial number
FCC ID: xraeb401
Bought from
chapters, Ontario
Bought
Mar 30, 2014
Where
ajax, Canada: Other
Who was involved
Age 28, Female
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand Flex, made or sold by Fitbit, Inc
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional

The company’s comments, in its own words

(4/29/2016) Fitbit, Inc: Fitbit is aware that skin irritation affects a very limited number of consumers who use wearable devices all day and all night from sweat, water, or soap being held against the skin under the device, or from pressure or friction against the skin. We encourage users to follow our wear and care instructions, available at www.fitbit.com/productcare. If any users are experiencing skin irritation we encourage them to remove the device to give their wrist a rest. If symptoms persist longer than 2-3 days after removing the device, users should contact a dermatologist/their doctor. Fitbit takes every complaint very seriously. If you have provided contact information, a Customer Support agent will contact you within 7 days. Otherwise please contact us at support@fitbit.com.

CPSC report 20160407-97B17-2147420366. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
Seen by a doctor or nurse
Made Mar 3, 2016, sent to the company Mar 11, 2016, published by CPSC Apr 1, 2016

The product, in the report: FitBit Flex

I have been wearing the FitBit Flex for 4 months. I am a registered nurse and I practice good hygiene. I clean the FitBit band with rubbing alcohol after exercise, I keep the device and band dry at all times, I do not wear the FitBit in the shower, and I wear the device very loosely around my wrist. Twice I have experienced a breakout that appears to be a burn on my wrist. These each occurred after approximately two month of wear. After the first incident I changed wrists until the burn healed. Once the burn healed (approximate 3 weeks) I went back to using my right wrist, and 2 months later another incident occurs. This is not an issue of hygiene, wearing the device too tightly around my wrist, or not drying the device well enough. It concerns me that there are so many complaints about this problem, yet the company has not made the public aware of this, nor have they done anything to alleviate the problem.

Bought from
Best Buy
Bought
Oct 2, 2015
Where
Memphis, Tennessee: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 61, Female
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand Flex, made or sold by Fitbit, Inc
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

The company’s comments, in its own words

(3/31/2016) Fitbit, Inc: Fitbit is aware that skin irritation affects a very limited number of consumers who use wearable devices all day and all night from sweat, water, or soap being held against the skin under the device, or from pressure or friction against the skin. We encourage users to follow our wear and care instructions, available at www.fitbit.com/productcare. If any users are experiencing skin irritation we encourage them to remove the device to give their wrist a rest. If symptoms persist longer than 2-3 days after removing the device, users should contact a dermatologist/their doctor. Fitbit takes every complaint very seriously. If you have provided contact information, a Customer Support agent will contact you within 7 days. Otherwise please contact us at support@fitbit.com.

CPSC report 20160303-D848F-2147421208. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
Hurt, care not known
Made May 9, 2015, sent to the company May 18, 2015, published by CPSC Jun 9, 2015

The product, in the report: FitBit Flex activity tracker

I have had a FitBit Flex since October of 2014. The wristbands are causing rashes on my left wrist and uncontrollable urges to scratch. I have replaces the bands with new ones and the same thing is happening. My wrist becomes irritated to the point u have to scratch it and when I do, it begins to bleed. I never have had this problem with any watches or other wrist bands I have worn. The rash will start to go away if I do not wear my FitBit even for a day, but comes roaring back if I put it on again.

Where
Unspecified: Unspecified
Who was involved
Unspecified
The reporter’s relation to them
Unspecified
As this report names them
Brand Flex, made or sold by Fitbit, Inc
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Injury, Level of care not known

The company’s comments, in its own words

(6/10/2015) Fitbit, Inc: Fitbit is aware that skin irritation affects a very limited number of consumers who use wearable devices all day and all night from sweat, water, or soap being held against the skin under the device, or from pressure or friction against the skin. We encourage users to follow our wear and care instructions, available at www.fitbit.com/productcare. If any users are experiencing skin irritation we encourage them to remove the device to give their wrist a rest. If symptoms persist longer than 2-3 days after removing the device, users should contact a dermatologist/their doctor. Fitbit takes every complaint very seriously. If you have not already done so please contact us at support@fitbit.com.

CPSC report 20150509-43DF9-2147433103. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov

CPSC’s disclaimer

Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.

Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.

Sources

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.

Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.

Flex computers and video games

At a glance

By month

How badly anyone was hurt

The reports, as CPSC published them

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources

How to read a record

Every fact names its source.

A number never stands alone.

What needs attention is marked.

The public record comes first.