Heating blankets and heating pads may keep you warm during the cold winter months, but experts warn of potential dangers.
Exposure to too high a temperature can cause significant skin damage, or a condition called toasted skin syndrome.
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Several heating blanket users have shared their experiences on social media with the syndrome, which has resulted in discolored markings on the skin.
One TikTok user, Faith Harrell (@faith_harrell), posted a video of her belly becoming discolored due to burnt skin syndrome from using a plug-in heating pad.
“A kind reminder not to overuse a heating pad on your stomach on the highest setting,” Faith Harrell wrote in a TikTok video that has now been viewed 7 million times. (TikTok @faith_harrell)
“A kind reminder not to overuse heating pads on the abdomen on the highest setting,” she wrote in the video, which has now been viewed 7 million times.
Harrell told Fox News Digital that the burn scar is “not painful” but “very itchy.”
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Although her patchy skin has not healed, Harrell said she still sleeps with a heating pad placed on her abdomen over her clothes.
“It's not gone away yet, but it may go away if you stop applying heat to the patchy skin area,” Harrell told FOX News Digital. (TikTok @faith_harrell)
Dr. Brendan Camp, a Manhattan-based dermatologist, explains that toasted skin syndrome, officially known as erythema abnormalis (EAI), is a “pattern of discoloration that develops in areas of the skin after prolonged exposure to a heat source.” He said that there is.
The main cause was prolonged exposure to heat “below the burn threshold,” he told Fox News Digital.
“While it may seem harmless at first, repeated exposure can cause permanent damage and, in some cases, increase the risk of skin cancer.”
Camp points out that prolonged exposure to any heat source can cause skin changes, including laptops, heated car seats, hot water bottles, electric blankets, space heaters, and heating pads used to treat back pain. did.
“A single exposure is unlikely to cause skin toast syndrome,” he said. “It occurs when you are repeatedly exposed to the same heat source.”
Other hot items such as laptops, heated car seats, hot water bottles, electric blankets and space heaters can also cause skin burn syndrome, experts warn. (St. Petersburg)
Dr. Alexandra Bowles, a board-certified dermatologist at MONA Dermatology in Cincinnati, Ohio, says the condition is characterized by a “patchy reddish-brown discoloration” that becomes more noticeable over time and may become permanent. He added that it could be.
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“This happens when the skin is exposed to enough heat to dilate blood vessels, but not enough to cause a burn,” she told FOX News Digital.
“While it may seem harmless at first, repeated exposure can cause permanent damage and, in some cases, increases the risk of skin cancer due to heat-induced cellular changes.”
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Camp agreed that the long-term risk of skin toast syndrome is the “development of malignant tumors” such as certain cancers in the affected area due to damage to skin cells.
Prolonged exposure to heated foods and skin toast syndrome can increase the risk of cancer, experts have warned. (St. Petersburg)
To prevent skin toast syndrome, Bowles recommends avoiding direct and prolonged contact with heat sources and using a barrier, such as a cloth, between your skin and the heat.
“If you notice any unusual skin discoloration or changes in texture, we recommend seeing a dermatologist,” she said. “Detecting potential problems early can help prevent long-term skin damage.”
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Camp also suggests avoiding this condition by “judiciously using electronic devices that produce heat, such as laptops and heated car seats.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to multiple manufacturers for comment.
