Remember last week when some Apple Watch users reported that the smartwatch from Apple doesn’t play nice on tattooed wrists? Well, Apple has just confirmed that tattoos do indeed impact on the sensor’s performance.
Apple recently updated its support document for the Apple Watch, saying that ink from tattoos could block light from the sensor, making it hard for the watch to get a proper reading. The heart-rate monitor on the watch works by shining infrared or green light through the skin, so changes on your skin, be it temporary or permanent, could interfere with its performance.
While Apple did not state what type of tattoos affects the sensors the most, it is believed that the darker the tattoo is, the harder it is for the sensor to work properly. Fortunately though, according to iMore who did some through tests on the matter, scar tissue and natural skin pigmentation shouldn’t be a problem for the Apple Watch.
According to reports that are being circulated around the internet, tattoos will not only affect the heart-rate reading, but also cause other issues. Even when worn, the watch will disconnect so each time you would like to check on a notification, it’ll prompt you for a passcode. Sadly though, Apple did not say whether or not will they fix the issue. They did however, suggest for users to use an external heart rate monitor such as Bluetooth chest straps for a more accurate reading.
