Hot bodies, hot legs, red rash?
When most college students think “hot,” a beautiful body comes to mind, not a laptop computer. However, a laptop can emit enough heat when resting on a user’s legs to cause a skin rash known as Toasted Skin Syndrome.
No itching or pain is associated with the rash, but the skin will have a dark, spidery, net-like appearance after repeated exposure to direct heat. If the rash goes untreated, the skin could be damaged so that the markings are permanent. For some patients, the rash can develop into skin cancer.
The rash, most commonly caused by laptop use or extended heating pad use, can appear anywhere on the body where repeated prolonged contact occurs from a direct heat source.
Also known as “fire stains,” Toasted Skin Syndrome has been found more in women than in men.
After reducing or removing the direct heat source, most patients report that the rash begins clearing up in as little as a few weeks. Especially with darker skin types, scarring can be permanent, but if caught early the rash usually disappears. Some patients with longer exposure have reported the rash taking up to a year to go away.
People using any direct heat source for pain relief from injury or for relief from conditions such as arthritis should be aware that Toasted Skin Syndrome is sometimes misdiagnosed, as some doctors are unaware of the resurgence of Toasted Skin Syndrome.
Toasted Skin Syndrome is often found described in older medical books as a rash that forms the sides and backs of patients after sitting too close to a fire.
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