You need to be careful with the heated appliances you use (stock photo) (Image: Getty)
If you frequently use space heaters, heated blankets, or hot water bottles to keep warm, you could be putting your health at risk.
As the January chill continues to be ruthless, many of us are doing whatever we can to stay warm without resorting to switching on our . Appliances like small space heaters can keep us warm without having to heat our entire home, while heated blankets and hot water bottles work wonders for keeping us cosy.
However, if you rely on these appliances throughout the winter months, you must be very careful with how you use them. Each of the heating methods can be effective, but they can also be damaging to our health if not used correctly.
One woman on has shared the dangers of “sitting too close” to a space heater for long periods of time, revealing that it has damaged the skin on her back.
Alexandra Sedlak did not show her skin in her video as she worried the clip would “get taken down”, but she referred to a condition known as toasted skin syndrome.
She said: “Do you know what happens if you repeatedly sit in front of an electric space heater with your back to it? I would love to show you, but if I did, this video would get taken down. But basically, you will turn into a marshmallow.
“I’m not exaggerating, because do you want to know what the condition is called? It’s a real thing; Google it; it’s called toasted skin syndrome. If you repeatedly expose your skin to an electric space heater or something of the sort, you will look like a toasted marshmallow, and there’s nothing really you can do about it.”
Toasted skin syndrome, also known as erythema ab igne (EAI), can be caused by prolonged exposure to anything that produces low-grade heat between 43 to 47°C. This can be a portable heater, heated blanket, or even the heat of a laptop battery.
[ADVICE] [TIP]
The syndrome can cause skin discolouration, itching, and a burning sensation. The exact cause of the discolouration is not known, but it’s thought that heat exposure causes changes to the elastic fibres that make up your skin and to the microscopic blood vessels that live at the skin’s surface.
According to , toasted skin syndrome isn’t usually a serious condition, but the Primary Care Dermatology Society notes there is a small risk linked to the syndrome.
On the , they state: “There appears to be a small long-term risk of squamous cell carcinoma or Merkel cell carcinoma developing in areas of EAI – the latent period may be 30 years or more. As such, enlarging skin lesions or persisting areas of ulceration within an area of EAI should be referred urgently.”
There is also no specific treatment for toasted skin syndrome, but the best thing you can do is remove the heat source. Discolouration in your skin will fade over time, while some topical medications can also help with any burning or irritation.
Commenters on Alexandra’s video were shocked to discover the syndrome, as many said they would change their heating habits from now on to keep their skin healthy.
One person said: “I just moved away from my space heater so fast.” Another added: “You actually helped me realise I got this from my heating pad.”