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Title: Boy Developed 'Toasted Skin' Condition From Using a Laptop Every Day

Link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/09/11/0...

A medical report published earlier this week says a boy in the U.K. developed
erythema ab igne, or "toasted skin syndrome," after resting a laptop on his
abdomen for up to eight hours a day, often while it was charging. "The marks
were described as being in a patch about 15 centimeters (six inches) wide,
made of flat, reddish-brown 'interlacing lines forming irregular circles and
a lace-like morphology,'" reports Ars Technica. From the report: Based on the
appearance, the doctors started reconsidering some sort of bruising and
started asking him more questions. This is when he mentioned that he was
homeschooled and used a laptop for his schoolwork. He said he typically did
his work by resting his laptop on his abdomen while he worked, sometimes for
up to eight hours a day, and often while the laptop was charging. Then they
understood what it was. The doctors diagnosed the boy with erythema ab igne
(EAI), which translates from Latin as "redness from fire" and is also
sometimes called "toasted skin syndrome." This is a skin condition caused by
repeated, prolonged exposure to low-grade heat -- heat not hot enough to
cause actual burns. It's most often seen in adults, and common causes include
using heating pads or hot water bottles for chronic pain or sitting too close
to space heaters. Some people also develop it from certain occupational
hazards, like glassblowing and metal work. EAI produces a lace-like rash,
just like the boy's. It's unclear how EAI develops exactly. But researchers
hypothesize that chronic heat exposure leads to damage to superficial blood
vessels and the release of red blood cells, forming the tell-tale red
reticulated pattern. While the boy's condition looked ominous, the good news
is that EAI is generally benign and reversible -- once you remove the heat
source. For severe or long-term conditions, some pigmentation and scarring
can remain. But the boy's parents checked back in over several months,
reporting that the rash faded and then completely resolved. Hopefully, he
also got some sort of laptop stand.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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