That strange rash on your skin might have an unexpected source sitting right in front of you. Erythema ab igne, sometimes called “toasted skin syndrome,” develops after prolonged exposure to low-level heat. While it has traditionally been associated with heating pads and hot water bottles, electronic devices such as laptops are another potential source.
One recent case involved a laptop being rested directly against the stomach for as long as eight hours a day, often while the device was charging. The resulting rash initially looked like unexplained bruising and eventually became tender and began peeling. Blood tests and scans found nothing unusual before prolonged laptop heat exposure was identified and the condition was diagnosed.
The good news is that toasted skin syndrome is usually reversible once the heat source is removed, although discoloration can sometimes persist. If you regularly work with a laptop directly against your legs or stomach, put it on a desk, table or other surface instead. And if an unexplained mottled or netlike rash appears where you routinely use a warm device or heating pad, consider whether repeated heat exposure could be the missing clue.
SOURCE:
The Telegraph, September 9, 2026