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Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Cozy Danger: The Risks of Heating Pads and Blankets

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Briana Mercola

Health & Fitness, Health, Alternative Health

4.61.5K Ratings

🗓️ 8 April 2025

⏱️ 11 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Story at-a-glance

  • Toasted skin syndrome (erythema ab igne) occurs when skin is exposed to moderate heat for prolonged periods, leading to red, brown or purple net-like patterns
  • Common causes include heating pads, electric blankets, laptops on your lap, space heaters and hot water bottles that maintain prolonged contact with skin
  • In toasted skin syndrome, initially harmless redness progresses to permanent skin discoloration, thinning and, in rare cases, skin cancer if heat exposure continues
  • Prevention includes using barriers between heat sources and skin, limiting heat application to 20 to 30 minutes and not placing laptops on your lap
  • Recommended alternatives include saunas, warm baths and physical activity to generate warmth without risking skin damage

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to Dr. Mercola's Cellular Wisdom. Stay informed with quick, easy-to-listen

0:06.1

summaries of our latest articles, perfect for when you're on the go. No reading required. Subscribe

0:11.2

for free at Mercola.com for the latest health insights.

0:14.1

Hello everyone and welcome to Dr. Mercola's Cellular Wisdom. I'm Ethan Foster, and today we're exploring a little-known skin condition called

0:24.1

Toasted Skin Syndrome, also known as Arithema Ab-Igna.

0:28.5

It can happen when you're exposed to moderate heat for prolonged periods.

0:32.5

Joining me as my co-host, Ilarra Sky, we'll discuss the causes,

0:36.7

warning signs, and what you can do to protect

0:39.1

yourself from potential long-term damage. Thank you, Ethan. Toasted skin syndrome may sound minor,

0:45.2

but it can lead to permanent skin discoloration, and, in rare cases, even skin cancer, if you ignore

0:51.5

the signs. It happens when you expose your skin to repeated or

0:55.2

prolonged moderate heat. Most people don't realize that items like heating pads, electric blankets,

1:01.2

and even laptops can bring about this condition if they're held too close to the skin for too long.

1:06.8

Exactly. Let's begin by clarifying what toasted skin syndrome is. The name Erythema ab igne

1:13.6

literally means redness by fire. However, this isn't a straightforward burn, like touching a hot stove.

1:20.6

Instead, it's a gradual heating process. You might use a laptop on your lap while streaming videos,

1:26.6

or use a heating pad on sore muscles for an extended period, not feeling an immediate burn.

1:33.2

Over time, though, your skin develops a net-like pattern of red, brown, or purple spots.

1:39.0

These lacy patterns can show up after constant contact with a heat source, especially at a moderate temperature.

1:45.4

Some people notice mild itching or a burning sensation. In its early stages, if you remove the

1:51.0

source of heat, the discoloration often fades, but prolonged exposure can turn the discoloration

1:56.9

permanent, thinning the skin. And in rare cases, if the condition persists for years, it can even

...

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