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On July 27, Facebook-owned VR company Oculus issued a recall of the foam covers for their Quest 2 Virtual Reality Headsets after users complained of skin irritation.
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), “The foam facial interfaces can cause facial skin irritation and reactions including rashes, swelling, burning, itching, hives, and bumps.”
The CPSC received approximately 5,716 incident reports, 45 of which required medical attention. They state that around 4 million units have been recalled, alongside about 172,600 in Canada.
These issues appear to have been known for months, with a statement from Oculus on April 15 explaining that “After conducting a comprehensive investigation into this issue, we did not find any contamination or unexpected substances in our manufacturing process. We identified a few trace substances that are normally present in the manufacturing process which could contribute to skin discomfort.”
“We’ve confirmed with expert dermatologists and toxicologists that these levels are considered extremely low.”
Sales have been paused for the Quest 2 headsets, which went on sale in October 2020. From August 24, all new headsets will come with a new silicone cover, and Oculus has stated that “we are now offering a free silicone cover to Quest 2 headset and Quest 2 fit pack owners.”
