Doctors have warned parents about the dangers of resting laptops on bare skin after a rise in cases of 'toasted skin syndrome' in children. The condition, also known as 'laptop thigh' and medically termed erythema ab igne (EAI), is typically seen in adults who use hot water bottles or heated pads. However, it is becoming increasingly common among young people who use electronic devices.
What causes the condition
EAI results from long-term exposure to low-level heat and leaves sufferers with a red, blotchy rash on their skin. The rash usually disappears within a few weeks or months if the heat source is removed, but some cases can lead to persistent hyper-pigmentation.
The warning follows the case of a pre-teen boy who was diagnosed with EAI after resting his laptop on his stomach for up to eight hours a day. Writing in the British Medical Journal, Dr Mara Znagoveanu of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust said the patient attended the children’s emergency department with “spontaneous bruising”.
How the case unfolded
No one in the boy's family could determine the cause of the bruises, as he had not suffered any recent injury and showed no other symptoms. Blood tests and scans returned normal, and he was discharged. However, two weeks later, he returned to hospital after the rash began peeling.
On this visit, doctors learned he was home-schooled and used a laptop for learning, which he rested on his stomach for up to eight hours a day, often while it was charging. The boy was eventually diagnosed with EAI, and his father reported in a phone consultation several months later that the rash had cleared.
Doctors' advice and key signs
Dr Znagoveanu said: “As more commonly reported in adults, EAI may be overlooked in children, especially when the source of heat is less obvious than the traditional sources such as hot water bottles and heating pads.” She added: “The increasing use of electronic devices, particularly during home schooling, has emerged as an under-recognised cause of EAI in paediatric populations.”
The doctor recommended that EAI be considered more frequently when assessing children for skin complaints, as early detection can avoid “unnecessary investigations” such as blood tests or scans. She noted: “There are currently no formal paediatric guidelines for EAI, and diagnosis remains clinical, based on history and characteristic findings.”
Key signs of toasted skin syndrome include a red, mottled, net-like discolouration on the skin, caused by prolonged repeated exposure to a heat source rather than allergy or disease. It is usually painless, though it can feel itchy, burning, or tingling, and becomes worse with more exposure to heat.
