What happens to your skin when you use a heating pad too often

Toasted skin syndromeknown medically as fire rashis a rare skin condition caused by prolonged exposure to a low-level heat source, such as a heating pad or radiator. The heat is just enough to cause minor damage to the skin’s surface, but not enough to cause a burn.

Burnt skin syndrome causes visible changes to your skin, usually after weeks or months of repeated exposure to a heat source. These changes affect the area of ​​the skin that has been exposed to heat and may include:

• A discolored, dark, or reddened rash in a web-like or fishnet pattern
• Itch
• Burning
• Sting
• Scaly

Repeated exposure to a heat source causes burnt skin syndrome. Experts believe that frequent exposure to heat causes parts of the outer layer of the skin to break down, including blood vessels and elastic fibers. This triggers a release of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, causing hyperpigmentation (excessive redness or discoloration) to form.

Common sources of heat exposure that can cause toasted skin syndrome include:

• Heating pads
• Electric blankets
• Seat heaters
• Laptops and other electronic devices
• Heating appliances, radiators and fireplaces
• Certain work environments, including commercial kitchens and industrial factories

Risk factors

Anyone can get burnt skin syndrome from exposure to a heat source, but some people are more at risk than others. This includes people who:

• Use heating pads regularly to relieve pain
• Place their laptops on their legs while using them
• Being regularly exposed to indoor heating sources such as wood stoves, radiators and fireplaces
• Working in kitchens or factories where heat is used to make or prepare goods
• Traveling for long hours using a heated seat

Diagnosing toasted skin syndrome is fairly simple: A doctor will likely examine your skin, then ask about your medical history and any recent exposure to heat. If you have a characteristic net-shaped rash and report regular or prolonged exposure to mild heat in that same area, no further testing is usually needed.

A doctor may also recommend a skin biopsy. This means that a small sample of the outer layer of your skin will be taken and sent to a laboratory for examination under a microscope. A biopsy can help your provider rule out other causes of your symptoms.

Treating burned skin syndrome primarily involves decreasing or stopping your exposure to the heat source. With less exposurethe skin usually heals on its own within several weeks or months.

If your skin discoloration persists, consider making an appointment with a dermatologist. You may be able to treat persistent discoloration with laser therapy treatments Or topical tretinoin. Both help decrease the amount of pigment in the skin.

Although a dermatologist can recommend treatment, burnt skin syndrome can cause discoloration and permanent scarring in some people. You may not be able to completely get rid of the rash.

You can avoid toasted skin syndrome by leaving enough space between your skin and nearby heat sources. Here are some best practices to prevent toasted skin syndrome:

• Limit the time you spend applying heat from heating pads, heated blankets, and heated seats directly to your body.
• Sit far enough away from heat sources such as heaters, radiators, wood stoves and fireplaces.
• Wear protective clothing when working near industrial heat sources or stoves, grills and ovens.
• Keep laptops and other electronic devices on a desk or table rather than directly on your body.

If you have toasted skin syndrome, continuing to expose this part of your body to heat sources may increase your risk of developing certain skin cancers. Over time, heat can damage your cells and cause inflammation, which can lead to the growth of cancer cells.

The most common types of skin cancers seen in people with chronic toasted skin syndrome include:

• Squamous cell carcinoma: Common cancer that affects one of the three cell types that make up the upper layer of the skin.
• Merkel cell carcinoma: A rare and aggressive type of cancer that affects cells deep in the upper layer of the skin.
• Basal cell carcinoma: The most common type of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma affects one of the three types of cells that make up the top layer of the skin.
• Cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma: This is a rare cancer that develops in specific cells located in the second layer of the skin.

Most cases of cancer associated with toasted skin syndrome occur decades after symptoms begin. It is important to see a dermatologist for regular skin checks if you have suffered from this condition, even if it completely disappears and you no longer have symptoms.