When the temperature is just about freezing outside, it’s natural to want to cozy up by the fire or warm up with your trusty heating pad or blanket. While the warmth it provides is very much welcomed during chilly times, there’s a rising concern about their use. Apparently, too much heating pad time can cause “toasted skin” syndrome.
Knowing that your heating pad could be causing a skin condition isn’t the news you want to hear during the winter season. If you have one, you know just how convenient it is when you’re experiencing menstrual cramps, are sore from your new Pilates class, or when you’re cold and need to warm up in bed after doing your nighttime skin-care routine. However, the prolonged use of heat on skin can lead to some uncomfortable and lasting side effects.
TikToker Alexandra Sedlak shared her experience with toasted skin syndrome, which arose unexpectedly. “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,” she said. “But basically, you will turn into a marshmallow.”
