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An electric blanket or heating pad may keep you warm during the cold winter months, but experts warn of a potential danger.
Excessive heat can cause noticeable damage skin damage, or a condition called toasted skin syndrome.
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Several electric blanket users have shared their own experiences with the syndrome on social media, revealing discolored patterns on their skin.
A TikTok user, Faith Harrell (@faith_harrell), posted a video showing toasted skin syndrome discoloration on her stomach caused by using a heating pad plugged in.
“Your friendly reminder not to excessively use your heating pad on the highest setting on your stomach,” Faith Harrell wrote in a TikTok video that currently has seven million views. (TikTok @faith_harrell)
“Your friendly reminder not to excessively use your heating pad on your stomach on the highest setting,” she wrote in the video, which currently has seven million views.
Harrell told Fox News Digital that the burn marks were “not painful” but were “severely itchy.”
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Although the patchy skin hasn’t gone away, Harrell says she still sleeps with the heating pad over her clothes on her stomach.
“It hasn’t gone away, but it may go away if you stop applying heat to the area of patchy skin,” Harrell told Fox News Digital. (TikTok @faith_harrell)
Based in Manhattan The dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, said that toasted skin syndrome, formally known as erythema ab igne (EAI), is a “pattern of discoloration that occurs in areas of skin following prolonged exposure to heat sources.”
The main cause is long-term exposure to heat “below the threshold for thermal burns,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Although it may seem harmless at first, repeated exposure can cause permanent damage and, in some cases, increase the risk of skin cancer.”
Skin changes can occur after prolonged exposure to any heat source, including laptops, says Camp. heated car seatsHot water bottles, electric blankets, space heaters and heating pads to treat lower back pain.
“It is unlikely that toasted skin syndrome occurs after a single exposure,” he said. “It occurs after repeated exposure to the same heat source.”
Other hot objects such as laptops, heated car seats, hot water bottles, electric blankets and space heaters can also cause toasted skin syndrome, experts warn. (iStock)
Dr. Alexandra Bowles, board-certified dermatologist at MONA Dermatology in Cincinnati, Ohioadded that the condition is characterized by “a mottled, reddish-brown discoloration that may become more noticeable and permanent over time.”
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“This happens when the skin is exposed to heat that is great enough to dilate blood vessels, but not enough to cause burns,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Although it may seem harmless at first, repeated exposure can cause permanent damage and, in some cases, increase the risk Skin cancer due to the cellular changes caused by the heat.”
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Camp agreed that the long-term risk of toasted skin syndrome is the “development of malignancies.” certain types of cancerin affected areas due to damaged skin cells.
Long-term contact with heated objects and toasted skin syndrome can lead to an increased risk of cancer, experts warn. (iStock)
To prevent toasted skin syndrome, Bowles recommends avoiding direct and prolonged contact with heat sources and using a barrier such as a cloth between the skin and heat.
“If you notice any unusual skin discoloration or texture changes, it’s a good idea to do so Consult a dermatologist“Identifying potential problems early can help prevent long-term skin damage.”
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Camp also suggests avoiding the illness through “prudent use of heat-producing electronic devices, such as laptops and heated car seats.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to several manufacturers for comment.
