What is “Toasted Skin Syndrome”? Experts warn heating pads may cause skin damage

Heating blankets or pads may keep you warm during the cold winter months, but experts warn of potential dangers.

Overexposure to high temperatures can lead to significant skin damage or the development of a condition called grilled skin syndrome.

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Several heating blanket users have shared their experiences with the syndrome on social media, with discolored patterns appearing on their skin.

One TikTok user, Faith Harrell (@faith_harrell), posted a video of her belly showing discoloration from baked skin syndrome from using a plug-in heating pad.

“Friendly reminder, don’t overuse your stomach heating pad on the highest setting,” she wrote in the video, which currently has 7 million views.

Harrell told Fox News Digital that the burn marks were “not painful,” but they were “super itchy.”

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Although the mottled skin has yet to clear up, Harrell said she still sleeps with a heating pad attached to her clothes pressed against her stomach.

“It hasn’t gone away, but if you stop applying heat to areas of patchy skin, it will go away,” Harrell told Fox News Digital. (TikTok @faith_harrell)

Toasted skin syndrome, formally known as erythema on fire (EAI), is a “pattern of discoloration in areas of skin that occurs after prolonged exposure to heat,” says Dr. Brendan Camp, a Manhattan dermatologist.

He told Fox News Digital that the main reason is long-term exposure to high temperatures “below the thermal burn threshold.”

“While it may seem harmless at first, repeated exposure can cause permanent damage and, in some cases, increase the risk of skin cancer.”

Camp noted that skin changes can occur after prolonged exposure to any heat source, including laptops, heated car seats, hot water bottles, electric blankets, space heaters and heating pads used to treat low back pain.

“Toasted skin syndrome is unlikely to occur after a single exposure,” he said. “It occurs after repeated exposure to the same heat source.”

Experts warn that other hot items such as laptops, heated car seats, hot water bottles, electric blankets and space heaters can also cause grilled skin syndrome. (iStock)

Dr. Alexandra Bowles, a board-certified dermatologist at MONA Dermatology in Cincinnati, Ohio, adds that the condition is characterized by “mottled reddish-brown discoloration that develops over time. The discoloration will become more noticeable and permanent”.

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“It occurs when the skin is exposed to a temperature that is high enough to dilate blood vessels, but not to a degree that causes burns,” she told Fox News Digital.

“While it may seem harmless at first, repeated exposure can cause permanent damage and, in some cases, increase the risk of skin cancer due to cellular changes caused by high temperatures.”

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Kemp agreed that the long-term risk of toasted skin syndrome is the “development of malignancies,” such as certain cancers, in the affected area due to damaged skin cells.

Experts warn that long-term exposure to heated items and baked skin syndrome may increase the risk of cancer. (iStock)

To prevent baked skin syndrome, Powers recommends avoiding direct and prolonged contact with heat sources and using a barrier such as a cloth between your skin and the heat source.

“If you notice any unusual skin discoloration or texture changes, it’s best to consult a dermatologist,” she says. “Early detection of potential problems can help prevent long-term skin damage.”

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Camp also recommends avoiding this through “judicious use of electronics that generate heat, such as laptops and heated car seats.”

Fox News Digital reached out to several manufacturers for comment.