Reaction to optical heart rate monitoring LEDs?

[Funk]

I have the Huawei Watch and use Sleep as Android sleep tracking. Part of the beta includes heart rate monitoring which is via a pair of green LEDs fired into the skin to detect blood pulses. It's not actually bad on accuracy either which surprised me.

However, I noticed this tonight:



It's directly under the HRM LEDs... Could skin have this reaction to the light or is it just a reaction to the watch in general?

I'm going to avoid wearing it for the mo and see if it clears up. Anyone seen anything like this before?

[DervVW]

I've a fitbit Surge that employs the same technology, I found at first I had a slight red mark, but its gone in time. I didnt wear a watch before so I thought it might just be that.

[HappyMidget]

Unless it is itchy it is just a pressure mark from where the module is pressing against the skin. You are probably wearing it too tight.

[944fan]

Funk said:

It's not actually bad on accuracy either which surprised me.

You should tell Fitbit. They are being sued in America for them being wildly inaccurate.

As the person above said, sure its just not on too tight?

[davhill]

Looks more like pressure/friction than photosensitivity. Then again, I'm only an amateur quack at weekends 😉

[tenohfive]

With the HRM monitoring I'd imagine that if it's anything like others (such as my TomTom) it doesn't monitor your HR continuously, it just checks it periodically - a brief pulse a couple of times an hour. I doubt that's causing it, and agree it's mostly likely just pressure (or possibly rubbing if it's a touch too loose.)

They are supposed to be tight to the skin - more so than a normal watch - in order to work, so unless it's really bothering you I'd just ignore it. You'll probably adjust in no time.

[HappyMidget]

The Fitbit Charge HR monitors continuously. I personally got peed off with their developers and ditched mine in favour of the MS Band. The Band changes its monitoring frequency depending on what mode you are in, from between once every ten minutes in normal mode to continuous whilst exercising.

[Funk]

Cheers guys, it's cleared up since I kept the watch off for a bit. It wasn't on tight (I could get a finger between the band and my wrist) so perhaps it was just minor irritation.

You're also right on the the LEDs normally - they only come on to monitor infrequently in normal use - however Sleep as Android tracks constantly from what I can tell. Every time I've happened to look, the LEDs were on. I'll perhaps reintroduce it without the HRM overnight (no LEDs) and see if the irritation returns. If it does I'll know it's the watch rather than the light.