Apple’s AirPods Pro are an impressive set of wireless earphones, offering active noise cancelation, transparency mode, and even spatial audio. They’re incredibly popular, but some users have suffered allergic reactions after using them.
If your ears don’t feel right after using your AirPods Pro, you might be allergic to the materials in them. You aren’t alone; lots of other users are also discovering they’re allergic to AirPods Pro despite the fact other headphones don’t give them any reaction at all.
We’ll delve into why this might be the case, how to tell if you’re having an allergic reaction, and what you need to do about it.
Why Are People Having Allergic Reactions to AirPods Pro?
This isn’t the first time an Apple product has caused allergic reactions. The nickel in Apple Watch straps started giving users a rash way back in 2015, as reported by International Business Times.
But an allergic reaction inside your ear canal can be much more troublesome.
Many users who have reacted to their AirPods Pro explained that they can use other in-ear headphones from companies like Sennheiser without any problems. This suggests Apple is using a different material in AirPods Pro that more people have an allergy to.
What Materials Are AirPods Pro Made Of?
Apple hasn’t published the exact materials used to make a set of AirPods Pro. But you can get the basics just by looking at them.
The body of AirPods Pro is made of the same white plastic Apple has used on its accessories for years. Presumably, it’s exactly the same as what you find on wired EarPods and regular AirPods.
At the base of each AirPod Pro stem is a small strip of metal. It’s difficult to say what kind of metal this is without hearing from Apple. Depending on where your allergic reaction is—in your ear or on the side of your face—you might be reacting to this metal rather than the rest of the AirPods Pro.
Finally, the soft ear tips that go into your ears are made of silicone. This seems to be the biggest cause of allergic reactions as most people experience symptoms inside the ear itself, where these silicone tips go.
Unlike regular AirPods, the AirPods Pro feature a silicone ear tip.
It’s possible Apple uses a mix of different materials in its silicone ear tips, which could be why some people react to these without reacting to other silicone earphones.
How to Tell If You’re Allergic to AirPods Pro
There are a range of different reactions you might experience if you’re allergic to AirPods Pro. The exact way your body reacts to an allergen is different for everyone. But needless to say, all these reactions relate to your ears and they occur shortly after using your AirPods Pro.
You might have an allergy if you experience any of these symptoms:
Itchy ear or ear canal
Swelling and inflammation inside your ear
Sensitive, dry, flaky, or scabbed skin in or around your ears
Sore or itchy red rash in or around your ears
Drainage, leakage, discharge, or ooze coming from your ears
Stinging, tingling, or painful sensations in your ears
This list isn’t exhaustive; there are plenty of other symptoms you might experience if you have an allergy to your AirPods Pro. Be sure to seek professional medical advice to confirm an allergy and make sure there isn’t anything else going on with your ears.
What to Do If You’re Allergic to AirPods Pro
Of course, the first thing you should do if you find out you’re allergic to your AirPods Pro is to stop using them and speak to your doctor. Get your ears checked out and make sure there aren’t any serious health problems you need to address.
Once you get the all-clear, here are some suggestions about how to protect yourself from another allergic reaction.
Clean Your AirPods Pro
It’s possible you suffered an allergic reaction to dirt or dust on your AirPods Pro, rather than the earphones themselves. To find out if this was the case, follow our guide to clean your AirPods Pro.
Pay particular attention to the silicone ear tips, which you can remove and run under the tap to clean them out. Just make sure they’re bone dry before clipping them back onto your AirPods Pro.
After cleaning your headphones, try using them again to see if your allergic reaction returns.
Clean Your Ears
We aren’t trying to imply that you don’t clean your ears normally, but if you experience an allergic reaction to your AirPods Pro then you definitely need to clean them again.
Don’t insert anything into your ears to clean them except for water or ear drops.
Despite popular belief, inserting a cotton bud into your ear is a good way to damage your ear canal, perforate your eardrum, or create a blockage of ear wax.
After giving your ears a thorough clean, try using your AirPods Pro again to see if you experience any allergic reaction symptoms again.
Change Your Ear Tips
If you think you’re allergic to the silicone ear tips on your AirPods Pro, you’ll be glad to learn that plenty of third-party alternatives are available that don’t use silicone.
There is a wide variety of third-party ear tips available.
Changing the ear tips on your AirPods Pro can get rid of your allergic reaction. Different ear tips can also help your AirPods fit into your ears better and even improve noise cancelation.
Lots of third-party ear tips are available, but we suggest you try some made from a different material to silicone, like these foam ear tips from Comply.
Stop Using Your AirPods Pro
If you’re still getting an allergic reaction to your AirPods Pro, you should stop using them. Putting up with your allergy to keep using your AirPods is a bad idea and could result in serious damage to your ears.
Apple offers a 14-day return period for any products you bought directly. Otherwise, contact your retailer to find out about their own return period.
If you can’t return your AirPods Pro, consider selling them. Like all Apple products, they hold their value well so you should be able to get a good price selling them even though they’re used.
Find Some Alternative Headphones
We love the AirPods Pro, but if they give you an allergic reaction then they aren’t worth using. Luckily, they aren’t the only wireless earphones on the market.
You might have better luck with the original AirPods, which are cheaper and don’t use silicone ear tips. If you still want active noise cancelation, consider the Beats Solo Pro headphones instead.
Dan writes tutorials and troubleshooting guides to help people make the most of their technology. Before becoming a writer, he earned a BSc in Sound Technology, supervised repairs at an Apple Store, and even taught English in China.
Good article. EXCEPT: The Comply memory foam earbuds are coated with silicone. I had the same problem with them as with the Apple airpods. I found memory foam buds that aren’t coated, and they’re great – no more itching!
Amazing article so dead on I couldn’t imagine what was going on with my ears but clearly I’m allergic to the silicone I’ll try the foam and if not go back to the original Apple your phones because I was not allergic to those. Thank you so much for writing such a clear succinct article
I purchased a set of AirPods Pro and I wore them for approx 3 months no problems. Then I encountered all the symptoms that you have mentioned. I tried changing the tips to memory foam (Comply) but still got the tingling and heavy ear discharge. 100% it was the AirPods that caused my allergies. I asked apple for the materials utilised in the manufacture of the AirPods. They said I would need to look up the details online. I now don’t wear the AirPods and my ears are fine just £200 wasted. Fabulous sound though!
The Comply buds are coated with the same material as the airpod pros. Try uncoated memory foam, and you’ll be using your Pros again. I bought “Link Dream 12 Pieces Replacement Ear Tips for AirPods Pro” (uncoated; they sell a coated version). There are others available.
I am suffering with soreness, tenderness, swelling around the outer ear, and itchy inner ear. I have deduced that it relates to my Airpod Pros – which until now I really loved. I deduced this because over a period, I wore just the right hand one and no surprise, the adverse reaction only occurred in the RH ear!
I have also determined that the issue is either the silicon tips AND/OR the white plastic body.
Apple is currently unwilling to share material data on what the Airpod Pros are manufactured from – presumably it regards this as proprietary information or intellectual property. So the only way to find out would be to sacrifice a set and send for materials analysis (reverse engineer) to determine what they’re made of. This is expensive and beyond the realms of ordinary consumers (and probably something Apple is grateful of!).
If you are experiencing any adverse reactions please report to Apple. That way, if enough report an issue, it may reach a threshold that makes Apple recognise the issue and maybe take steps to help investigate or disclose materials or some other resolution.
Thank you very much for this article! I have the same awkward problem. Could you/anybody recommend which earbuds can I switch/use? I have reported that problem to Apple Finland but they can´t help me.
I had this problem with a second set of AirPods I bought to replace the first pair I had which broke. I had no problem at all being allergic to the first pair. I am certain the problem I had was a result of second set of earbuds. I stopped wearing the second set for two weeks and let my ear canals heal (I had an eczema like reaction). Then I put them back in and in 24 hours exact same thing. I waited another two weeks for my ears to heal again. Not thinking the earbuds were definitely the cause as I had used the first pair that I wore for over one year with no issues, I then wore them again. Less than 24 hours later I got the exact same reaction. Some thing must have changed in the plastic between the versions made in December 2019 and those made in February 2021. I have noticed a very subtle difference in how the plastic smells between the two. The one that causes the issue has a very faint menthol odor.
Thank you thank you thank you!! I have two sets of AirPods Pro as well, from the exact same 2 months (12/2019 and 2/2021). After getting the second pair, I developed a very bad allergic/eczematous reaction to them, and wasn’t sure whether it was the tips or the whole thing. I use them all day, so go back and forth between them, and it didn’t occur to me that it might be only one pair of them that was causing the reaction.
After reading your comment, I sniffed them and noticed the same thing – one pair smelled like menthol (or maybe cloves?) Fingers crossed that (once I heal) I can keep using the old ones safely! I have already submitted a case to Apple.
I really appreciate it that you took the time to include so much (very helpful) detail.
Finally confirmed my problem! I don’t regularly use AirPods Pro for my zoom meetings but I use in the evening to watch movies before going to sleep. One morning I realize that frequent headaches I am getting is caused by swollen ear canals. I also started showing latex allergy symptoms as well as eczema on my hands. Not sure if it’s overall body’s efforts to eliminate foreign things, but it’s been very unpleasant and uncomfortable. I finally figured my daily use of air pods pro!
Thanks for the article! I had all of your listed symptoms and experimented by wearing them, not wearing them, wearing them etc. Even after an hours use I would end up with drainage, insane itching and scabbing and it would take over a week to heal it. I tried an alternative tip and still had the symptoms.
I was about to give them up and decided to try wearing them with no tip. It worked! It effects the noise canceling a bit but personally I don’t mind that at all. It’s really just the cordless I’m after. It actually fits better into my ear this way too… never falls out.
Thought I’d share in case others wanted to give this a try!
Thank you for this article. I started using my AirPod Pros more frequently while exercising and noticed all of the symptoms of an allergic reaction that you listed. After thinking maybe I had something like swimmer’s ear from sweating with the AirPods in, and getting no relief from cleaning/drying my ears carefully, etc, I searched online and found that this is a common complaint! I also have never had problems with any other ear buds while exercising and never considered that these silicone tips might have a mix of ingredients that are causing an allergic reaction. I have ordered the foam tips that were recommended in your article and am hopeful that this will solve my issue.
Hi Dan, I really didn’t have any allergies until now. My ears are definitely allergic to the airpods. Thank you for your information. I wondered if other people were having the same problems. Sincerely, Mary Babcock
Dear Dan, I am an ENT Specialist in Germany and I have seen today the second Patients with this Problem. It is obvious that Doctors are not aware oft this cause of Ear Pain and allergic sensations if the Patient doesn´t mention it. It would be very helpfull if Apple would tell us the exact Material. I suppose they are manufactured in China…. Best Regards Dr Mayer-Brix
Good article. EXCEPT: The Comply memory foam earbuds are coated with silicone. I had the same problem with them as with the Apple airpods. I found memory foam buds that aren’t coated, and they’re great – no more itching!
Amazing article so dead on I couldn’t imagine what was going on with my ears but clearly I’m allergic to the silicone I’ll try the foam and if not go back to the original Apple your phones because I was not allergic to those. Thank you so much for writing such a clear succinct article
I purchased a set of AirPods Pro and I wore them for approx 3 months no problems. Then I encountered all the symptoms that you have mentioned. I tried changing the tips to memory foam (Comply) but still got the tingling and heavy ear discharge. 100% it was the AirPods that caused my allergies. I asked apple for the materials utilised in the manufacture of the AirPods. They said I would need to look up the details online. I now don’t wear the AirPods and my ears are fine just £200 wasted. Fabulous sound though!
The Comply buds are coated with the same material as the airpod pros. Try uncoated memory foam, and you’ll be using your Pros again. I bought “Link Dream 12 Pieces Replacement Ear Tips for AirPods Pro” (uncoated; they sell a coated version). There are others available.
I am suffering with soreness, tenderness, swelling around the outer ear, and itchy inner ear. I have deduced that it relates to my Airpod Pros – which until now I really loved. I deduced this because over a period, I wore just the right hand one and no surprise, the adverse reaction only occurred in the RH ear!
I have also determined that the issue is either the silicon tips AND/OR the white plastic body.
Apple is currently unwilling to share material data on what the Airpod Pros are manufactured from – presumably it regards this as proprietary information or intellectual property. So the only way to find out would be to sacrifice a set and send for materials analysis (reverse engineer) to determine what they’re made of. This is expensive and beyond the realms of ordinary consumers (and probably something Apple is grateful of!).
If you are experiencing any adverse reactions please report to Apple. That way, if enough report an issue, it may reach a threshold that makes Apple recognise the issue and maybe take steps to help investigate or disclose materials or some other resolution.
Thank you very much for this article! I have the same awkward problem. Could you/anybody recommend which earbuds can I switch/use? I have reported that problem to Apple Finland but they can´t help me.
I had this problem with a second set of AirPods I bought to replace the first pair I had which broke. I had no problem at all being allergic to the first pair. I am certain the problem I had was a result of second set of earbuds. I stopped wearing the second set for two weeks and let my ear canals heal (I had an eczema like reaction). Then I put them back in and in 24 hours exact same thing. I waited another two weeks for my ears to heal again. Not thinking the earbuds were definitely the cause as I had used the first pair that I wore for over one year with no issues, I then wore them again. Less than 24 hours later I got the exact same reaction. Some thing must have changed in the plastic between the versions made in December 2019 and those made in February 2021. I have noticed a very subtle difference in how the plastic smells between the two. The one that causes the issue has a very faint menthol odor.
Thank you thank you thank you!! I have two sets of AirPods Pro as well, from the exact same 2 months (12/2019 and 2/2021). After getting the second pair, I developed a very bad allergic/eczematous reaction to them, and wasn’t sure whether it was the tips or the whole thing. I use them all day, so go back and forth between them, and it didn’t occur to me that it might be only one pair of them that was causing the reaction.
After reading your comment, I sniffed them and noticed the same thing – one pair smelled like menthol (or maybe cloves?) Fingers crossed that (once I heal) I can keep using the old ones safely! I have already submitted a case to Apple.
I really appreciate it that you took the time to include so much (very helpful) detail.
Finally confirmed my problem! I don’t regularly use AirPods Pro for my zoom meetings but I use in the evening to watch movies before going to sleep. One morning I realize that frequent headaches I am getting is caused by swollen ear canals. I also started showing latex allergy symptoms as well as eczema on my hands. Not sure if it’s overall body’s efforts to eliminate foreign things, but it’s been very unpleasant and uncomfortable. I finally figured my daily use of air pods pro!
Thanks for the article! I had all of your listed symptoms and experimented by wearing them, not wearing them, wearing them etc. Even after an hours use I would end up with drainage, insane itching and scabbing and it would take over a week to heal it. I tried an alternative tip and still had the symptoms.
I was about to give them up and decided to try wearing them with no tip. It worked! It effects the noise canceling a bit but personally I don’t mind that at all. It’s really just the cordless I’m after. It actually fits better into my ear this way too… never falls out.
Thought I’d share in case others wanted to give this a try!
Thank you for this article. I suspected that my AirPods were causing this allergic reaction on my ears but this just confirmed it.
Thanks for the article and alternative ear tip suggestions!
Thank you for this article. I started using my AirPod Pros more frequently while exercising and noticed all of the symptoms of an allergic reaction that you listed. After thinking maybe I had something like swimmer’s ear from sweating with the AirPods in, and getting no relief from cleaning/drying my ears carefully, etc, I searched online and found that this is a common complaint! I also have never had problems with any other ear buds while exercising and never considered that these silicone tips might have a mix of ingredients that are causing an allergic reaction. I have ordered the foam tips that were recommended in your article and am hopeful that this will solve my issue.
Hi Dan, I really didn’t have any allergies until now. My ears are definitely allergic to the airpods. Thank you for your information. I wondered if other people were having the same problems. Sincerely, Mary Babcock
Dear Dan, I am an ENT Specialist in Germany and I have seen today the second Patients with this Problem. It is obvious that Doctors are not aware oft this cause of Ear Pain and allergic sensations if the Patient doesn´t mention it. It would be very helpfull if Apple would tell us the exact Material. I suppose they are manufactured in China…. Best Regards Dr Mayer-Brix