Facebook halts sales of Oculus Quest 2 headset after its foam mask gave users a rash

Facebook said on Tuesday that it would temporarily halt sales of the Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headset as the old foam insert caused facial rashes.

In conjunction with the sales stoppage, Facebook will give all customers a new silicon cover that goes over the foam insert and starting on August 24, all Quest 2 headsets will come with the silicone cover in every box. 

‘As more people got into VR with Quest 2, we started receiving reports that a very small percentage of Quest 2 customers experienced some skin irritation after using the removable foam facial interface that comes with Quest 2 and is also sold separately, including as a part of the Fit Pack,’ Facebook Reality Labs head Andrew Bosworth wrote in a blog post announcing the recall.

‘While the rate of reports is small and the majority of reported cases are minor, we’re committed to ensuring our products are safe and comfortable for everyone who uses them.’

Facebook will temporarily halt sales of the Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headset as the old foam insert caused facial rashes

The company will give all customers a new silicon cover that goes over the foam insert (pictured). Starting August 24, all Quest 2 headsets will come with the silicone cover

For those who wish to get a free silicone cover, Oculus has created a website with step-by-step instructions on how to do so.  

Facebook first received reports of the skin irritation in December 2020, according to The Verge, adding that roughly 0.01 percent of all users suffered from the irritation. 

‘We took the skin irritation reports very seriously as soon as we learned about them and, beginning in December, we promptly conducted a thorough investigation including receiving advice from leading dermatologists and toxicologists,’ Bosworth added. 

‘These experts have advised that skin irritation can occur in some segments of the population from many household items—even things like tomatoes or shampoo—and that the rates we’ve seen are in line with expectations.’ 

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there have been ‘approximately 5,716 reports of incidents of skin irritation and approximately 45 reports of consumers that required medical attention.’

The CPSC added that the recall will impact ‘about 4 million units’ in the US and ‘about 172,600 in Canada.’ 

In addition, to the product recall, Facebook said it would add a new 128GB model, replacing the 64GB model, retailing for $299.

The Quest 2 headset also comes in a 256GB variety, which retails for $399.