A heated blanket or heater may keep you warm in the cold winter months, but experts warn of the potential danger.
Excessive exposure to high heat can cause visible skin damage, or a condition called toasted skin syndrome.
NEW IN KINCARE PEOPLE WHO APPLY BEEF SHORTS ON THEIR SKIN: THEY CAN GET THEM BACK
Several users of the hot blanket have shared their experiences with the disease on social media, showing the changed patterns on their skin.
One TikTok user, Faith Harrell (@faith_harrell), posted a video of fried skin syndrome on her stomach from using an attachable heating pad.
“Your friendly reminder not to overuse your heating pad on your stomach at the highest point,” wrote Faith Harrell in the TikTok video, which currently has seven million views. (TikTok @faith_harrell)
“Your friendly reminder not to overuse your heating pad on your stomach at the highest point,” she wrote in the video, which now has seven million views.
Harrell told Fox News Digital that the burn marks are “not painful” but “very itchy.”
ANTI-TANNING PILLS CAN BE DANGEROUS, Dermatologists Warn: ‘BUYERS SHOULD BEWARE’
Although the scarred skin hasn’t gone away, Harrell said he still sleeps with a heater on top of his clothes on his stomach.
“It hasn’t gone away, but it can go away if you stop using heat on the affected area,” Harrell told Fox News Digital. (TikTok @faith_harrell)
Manhattan-based dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, said toasted skin syndrome, formally known as erythema ab igne (EAI), is “a pattern of discoloration that occurs in areas of the skin after prolonged exposure to heat sources.”
The main cause is prolonged exposure to heat “below the threshold of 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, Camp noted, including laptops, heated car seats, hot water bottles, electric blankets, space heaters and heating pads used to treat lower back pain.
“Toasted skin syndrome is less likely to occur after a single exposure,” he said. “It occurs after repeated exposure to the same heat source.”
Other hot items such as laptops, heated car seats, hot water bottles, electric blankets and air heaters can also cause heatstroke, experts warn. (Stock)
Dr. Alexandra Bowles, a board-certified dermatologist at MONA Dermatology in Cincinnati, Ohio, added that the condition is characterized by “spotty, red discoloration that can become prominent and permanent over time.”
For more health articles, visit Foxnews.com/health
“This occurs when the skin is exposed to heat high enough to dilate the blood vessels, but not to the point of causing a burn,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Although it may seem harmless at first, repeated exposure can lead to permanent damage, and in some cases, increase the risk of skin cancer due to the cellular changes caused by the heat.”
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH PAPER
Camp acknowledged that the long-term risk of toasted skin syndrome is “the development of malignancies,” such as certain cancers, in the affected areas due to damaged skin cells.
Long-term exposure to hot things and fried skin can lead to an increased risk of cancer, experts warn. (Stock)
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 the heat.
“If you see any unusual changes in the skin or the texture of the skin, you should consult a dermatologist,” he said. “Catching potential problems early can help prevent long-term skin damage.”
CLICK HERE FOR THE NEWS PROGRAM
The camp also suggests avoiding this situation by “using electronic devices that generate heat, such as laptops and heated car seats.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to several producers for comment.
Source link
