Smartwatches and tattoos are like water and oil - they don't go along quite well with each other.  

(Photo : Photo by JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images)
Argentine tattooist Tebi Cobra Vucinovich works on a tattoo of Argentina's forward Lionel Messi kissing the FIFA World Cup trophy on the leg of Ariel Sacchi at Ds Tattoo Shop in Buenos Aires on December 23, 2022.

This is because tattoos can affect the performance of smartwatches. Before you try and solve this issue, you need to know first why this happens. 

Why Smartwatches and Tattoos Don't Go Along

Smartwatches rely on sensors to measure your heart rate and other body activities. 

(Photo : Photo credit should read PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)
A customer plays with a new Apple Watch in an Apple store in Sydney on April 10, 2015. Apple started taking orders from customers before the sale of the watch which will be available to buy in Australia on April 24, 2015. AFP PHOTO / Peter PARKS (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)

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Most of these wearables use PPG (photoplethysmography) sensors, optical sensors that shine light into the human skin. 

PPG sensors can determine various biometric data based on how much light is reflected back. Now, if you have tattoos, the reflected light would be reduced. 

This will lead to inaccurate biometric data. Apple's official website also warned users that skin changes, especially tattoos, can impact smartwatch heart rate sensors. 

"The ink, pattern, and saturation of some tattoos can block light from the sensor, making it difficult to get reliable readings," said the iPhone maker. 

Now that you know why tattoos affect smartwatches' performances, it's time to try hacks and alternatives that can solve this issue.  

Hacks and Alternatives

The Verge reported that there are other wearable alternatives that you can rely on that are as efficient as smartwatches. 

One of these is using other wearables that can be worn in other parts of your body without tattoos. 

For example, you can use the Peloton Arm Band or Polar OH1 as your arm-band heart rate monitors. 

There are also other earbuds that can measure your heart rates, such as Amazfit Powerbuds Pro and the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4.

Some smart rings can also measure biometric data, such as the Oura Ring. 

If you want to stick with your smartwatch, you can use epoxy stickers. This will allow your wearable to measure biometric data even if you have tattoos. 

These are just some of the alternatives and tricks you can rely on if you have tattoos and uses smartwatches. 

You can click this link to learn more details. 

In other news, the new Oppo Watch 3 WeChat Edition finally arrived in China. 

We also reported about the Nowatch health-monitoring smartwatch, which looks like a traditional watch. 

For more news updates about smartwatches and other wearables, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.