Toasted Skin Syndrome: The Dangers of Excessive Heating Pad Use

By: Error

Have you noticed a mottled-looking pattern on your skin where you tend to use heating pads, hot water bottles, or other heated items? This is a phenomenon called “Toasted Skin Syndrome”. It occurs from excessive heat use on those areas of the skin, becoming literally toasted from the high levels of heat or extended use of heat. It can happen anywhere on the body, but the most common areas are on the abdomen, legs, back, and shoulder.

Erythema ab igne, or “Toasted Skin Syndrome,” happens when parts of your body are exposed to that heat for longer periods of time. It isn’t usually a serious condition but has been linked to cancer.

It is a rare hyperpigmented dermatosis that can occur at any site with recurrent exposure to heat or an infrared source. While there’s no treatment for it, there are some things that you can do to reverse toasted skin syndrome in the early stages.

In the early stages, there may be a temporary redness in a pattern resembling a lacework or fishing net. This fades easily when pressed.

In milder cases of toasted skin syndrome, the skin changes usually fade, though it may take several months or longer. In more severe cases, the skin changes are permanent. Bottom line: Though a heating pad or hot water bottle may feel good on your body, be mindful of your skin.

Toasted Skin Syndrome can become permanent. Furthermore, despite toasted skin syndrome being a largely benign condition, there have been cases in which this led to the development of cutaneous malignancies like cutaneous lymphoma, squamous cell carcinoma or Merkel cell carcinoma.

The only way to truly treat Toasted Skin Syndrome is to avoid any further exposure of the heat source to the affected area or use heat with less intensity or shorter time periods. Use some pure aloe, or Vitamin E, or walnut oil on the areas to help them heal faster and reduce pigmentation change. Skin should return to its normal condition in a few weeks.

While using heating pads and other things to help treat pain, it’s just like taking medication; you can only use it for a small amount of time and in moderation before it starts to cause problems.

I myself have Erythema ab igne on my abdomen due to chronic pain from bowel
endometriosis and Crohn’s disease, and noticed the mottling pattern one day while showering. It alarmed me because it looked like a stage of decomposition (I’m a very huge fan of true crime, so seeing this pattern that’s similar to blood pooling after loss of life, startled me). I brought it up to my physician and said this condition (while being rare) can happen easily to those with sensitive skin or have the gene that causes keloids.

Greetings everyone! My name is Error, and I am a 26-year-old agender person who uses the pronouns they/them. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at 14 years old and have dealt with chronic pain and chronic illness since then. I am from New Orleans, Louisiana and I enjoy writing all my experiences for those to have guidance and an insight into what one of my days looks like. Learn more about Error on Our Contributors page.