heating pads’ dangerous side effect
What happens when warm and toasty becomes disfigured and toasted?
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mark Strom has taken to TikTok to warn folks of a little-known but particularly nasty side effect of heat exposure that can be caused by heating pads and hot water bottles.
It can be itchy and painful — and in some cases, permanent.
TikTok user Faith Harrell (@faith_harrell) initially set off alarm bells on the app when she showed off the skin on her stomach, which was covered in a dark, irregular pattern.
“Your friendly reminder to not excessively use your heating pad on your stomach at the highest setting,” she wrote, racking up 3.9 million views and thousands of concerned comments.
Some chimed in with their own horror stories, naming the issue: “I had toasted skin syndrome on my legs all through high school because I was ADDICTED to my heating pad,” said one woman.
Responding to Faith’s warning, Dr. Strom broke down just how toasted skin syndrome happens.
“Many don’t realize that you actually need to be very careful about chronic heat exposure to your skin,” he said. “Even heat exposure that’s not causing any pain at the time or burning, because long term heat exposure can lead to a permanent rash and discoloration.”
This condition is called erythema ab igne, also known as “EAI,” “toasted skin syndrome,” or “fire stains.”
“It causes permanent net-like patterns of brown, purple, or red discoloration,” Strom explained. “Some of the biggest culprits of causing this are heating pads, like ones that are used to treat things like endometriosis pain.”
Erythema ab igne — Latin for “redness from fire” — was once common among bakers, cooks and industrial workers who were chronically exposed to heat for long periods, as well as people who sat in front of a stove in their homes or by an open fire to get warm.
The condition became less prevalent as central heating grew in ubiquity.
Strom noted that in addition to heating pads, modern sources of toasted skin syndrome include space heaters, electric blankets and laptops.
The classic EAI symptom is a rash that forms in a “lace-like” pattern; it may begin as pink and eventually turn red, purple, or brown. EAI may itch, burn or tingle and can be difficult to distinguish from rashes caused by skin cancer.
“If you start to notice discoloration on your skin, you want to stop the heat exposure ASAP, hopefully before the discoloration becomes permanent,” said Strom.
To protect the skin from EAI, experts recommend using a lap desk, programming your heating pad or electric blanket to the lowest possible setting, and limiting use.
Middle-aged women, especially those who are overweight, are disproportionately affected by EAI. Treatment usually involves staying away from the heat source. The rash tends to go away on its own. In rare instances, it could cause scarring and raise the risk of skin cancer.
Retinoid cream, derived from vitamin A, may help ease symptoms, though it’s not recommended for pregnant or nursing women.
