Reports of low-temperature burns from disposable hand warmers have prompted a doctor to warn about proper use of the products amid a prolonged cold spell in Taiwan.
Huang Ching-yu (黃景昱), a doctor at the Dr Young and Dr Huang Dermatology and Aesthetics Clinic in Taipei, said that while heating pads can provide localized warmth — improving blood circulation — people must take care when using them.
Leaving the heating pads on skin for long periods or inside blankets while sleeping can lead to problems, Huang said.
Photo: Taipei Times file
“If a person rolls over onto a heating pad in their sleep, it can press the product onto exposed skin, which can cause a low-temperature burn,” he said.
This can lead to a condition known as a “hot water bottle rash” — or erythema ab igne — which can cause reticulated redness and dark patches on the skin, he said.
Itchiness, a burning sensation, and damage to the skin and underlying tissue can result, Huang said, adding that great care should be taken when using heating pads in bed.
Elderly people, those with chronic illness, mobility problems or nerve abnormalities are prone to low-temperature burns, while other high-risk groups include infants and people who use sleeping pills, he said.
“A hand warmer can reach 45°C and could easily cause a burn if pushed against the skin for 15 to 20 minutes,” he said. “If a person sustains a low-temperature burn, they should immediately rinse it with cold water before seeking advice from a medical professional.”
The nervous system will warn people about temperatures in excess of 60°C, but damage from low-temperature burning can go unnoticed while it is being inflicted, he said.
“It is like cooking sous vide chicken,” Huang said. “People might not be concerned by the relatively low heat and not be on guard for potential damage.”
However, after prolonged exposure, the skin can be harmed, he said.
After 30 minutes, low-heat burns can manifest as a burning sensation, he said, adding that the resulting rashes do not usually blister, and there would be more itchiness than pain.
“We treated a patient for shoulder pain after they used heating pads for about 20 minutes daily,” Huang said. “After a few weeks of use, the patient had reticulated redness on the area.”
Even if a heating pad is wrapped in a towel, it can still burn if it is pressed against the skin, he added.
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), spokeswoman Yang Chih-yu (楊智伃) and Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介) would be summoned by police for questioning for leading an illegal assembly on Thursday evening last week, Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said today. The three KMT officials led an assembly outside the Taipei City Prosecutors’ Office, a restricted area where public assembly is not allowed, protesting the questioning of several KMT staff and searches of KMT headquarters and offices in a recall petition forgery case. Chu, Yang and Hsieh are all suspected of contravening the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法) by holding
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
President William Lai (賴清德) has appointed former vice president Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) to attend the late Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican City on Saturday on his behalf, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today. The Holy See announced Francis’ funeral would take place on Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square. The ministry expressed condolences over Francis’ passing and said that Chen would represent Taiwan at the funeral and offer condolences in person. Taiwan and the Vatican have a long-standing and close diplomatic relationship, the ministry said. Both sides agreed to have Chen represent Taiwan at the funeral, given his Catholic identity and
RSS