Prolonged and repeated direct contact between skin and laptops, heating pads and other sources of heat can cause a rash, Taipei-based dermatologist Tsai Yi-shan (蔡逸姍) said last week.
Erythema ab igne is a rash that manifests as reddish or dark-colored patterns on the skin, and usually develops from prolonged contact with a mild source of heat, Tsai wrote on Facebook on Saturday.
Sources that can trigger the condition — also known as hot water bottle rash — include laptops, hand warmers and heated blankets, with the location of a rash often providing an indication of its cause, said Tsai, who is director of Yes Clinic.
Photo: CNA
A common activity reported by people with the condition is that they spend a lot of time using a laptop on their thighs, she said.
People who hold hand warmers for too long can also develop a rash, she said.
The tell-tale mottled rash is caused by oxidated hemoglobin that accumulates in the dermis due to the overexpansion of capillaries, she said.
People who have light symptoms should stop the activity that caused the rash and wait for the skin to heal, which usually takes weeks or months, she said.
Further exposure of affected skin to heat could make the rash more severe that requires treatment with ointments, as an untreated rash can become infected, worsen into lesions and potentially infection, Tsai said.
Some researchers have linked the rashes to skin cancer, especially some types of carcinoma, she said.
Hand warmers should be handled with care and never left in contact with skin for more than 30 minutes at a time, with special care needed for infants, bedridden people and elderly people with sensitive skin related to aging, nerve conditions or diabetes, she said.
Hot water bottles should not be used while asleep, intoxicated, or under the influence of mind-affecting medicine or substances, as inattentiveness and reduced senses make heat-related injuries more likely, she said.
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