A troubling trend has emerged among Australian women who, despite spending significant amounts on medical treatments, discover that their painful symptoms are self-inflicted.
Lauren Lilly shared her experience, saying, “I felt embarrassed because I had spent hundreds, even thousands, on dermatologists, doctors, and numerous tests for various autoimmune diseases and kidney issues.”
She was shocked and embarrassed to learn that her discomfort stemmed from a simple mistake.
In a TikTok video, she confessed, “I was actually burning myself with a hot water bottle every night while I slept.”
During her first visit to a dermatologist, she recalled his straightforward questions that made her think. He asked, “Are you burning yourself?” To which she thought, “I’d know if I was doing that.”
Yet, she was wrong—she hadn’t noticed her mistake for months.
“I kept using the same hot water bottle every night, and it burned through the cover. I ended up with third-degree burns without realizing it,” she explained.
According to Dr. Mark Strom, a board-certified dermatologist, this is related to a condition called erythema ab igne, or “fire stains,” which results from prolonged heat exposure.
Dr. Strom emphasized, “Many don’t realize that chronic heat can be damaging, leading to permanent rashes and discoloration—even if it doesn’t initially hurt.”
Erythema ab igne, a term that means “redness from fire” in Latin, was once common among bakers and chefs. Its symptoms often present as rashes with a lacy appearance, which can start pink and darken to red or brown.
These rashes can be itchy or burning, complicating their differentiation from more serious skin conditions.
Dr. Strom cautioned that if you notice any skin discoloration, you should reduce heat exposure immediately, as waiting can result in permanent changes.
This condition tends to disproportionately affect middle-aged women, particularly those who are overweight. While the rash typically heals itself when heat sources are eliminated, there is a rare risk of scarring and skin cancer.
Retinoid creams may alleviate some symptoms.
Lilly hopes her experience will help others feel less ashamed of their similar struggles.
Her story prompted many comments from individuals who faced similar medical misunderstandings, including one who wrote, “I thought I had melanoma, but it was just a bruise from falling asleep on my hot water bottle.”
Another listener recounted, “I had a lump on my side that turned out to be my hip bone, which just goes to show how easy it is to misinterpret our bodies.”
It’s a reminder of how even the simplest habits can lead to unforeseen issues.
