HOT TIP
Esthetician shares urgent warning against ‘toasting’ your skin with hot water bottles & damage can take years to leave
Read on for tips on how to use a hot water bottle safely
A SKIN expert has revealed the real reason you shouldn't rely on hot water bottles and space heaters to keep warm this winter.
While they can come in useful to save money on the heating bills in the winter, esthetician Sarah Maxwell shared that there is a downsize that can have damaging consequences.
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She said: "This is a PSA to anyone that uses hot water bottles, heat sources like a space heater or heated mattress or heated blanket.
"You have to be careful that you don't give yourself your erythema ab igne, also known as toasted skin syndrome."
It's a a skin condition caused by long-term exposure to heat, prolonged thermal radiation exposure to the skin can lead to the development of reticulated erythema, hyperpigmentation, scaling, and telangiectasias in the affected area.
She revealed she accidentally gave it to herself in her clinic as she works in Canada where it's cold.
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To keep herself warm while doing beauty treatments, she always had her space heater on and soon noticed a rash on her legs where the heat was directly hitting her.
Sarah added: "It almost looks like a laced kind of spotted blotchy pink rash and at first I didn't know what it was and then as it worsened I realised it was from the space heater, and I was actually toasting my skin while giving people facials."
She said that once she realised what it was she moved the heater and the rash slowly began to fade.
But for those using direct heat sources a lot, it can take years to get rid of the rash.
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She continued: "Sometimes it can take months, sometimes it can take years to go away, and sometimes it doesn't go away at all.
"So the moral of the story and I learned this the hard way, is to be very careful when you're using a heat source so that you do not give yourself toasted skin."
My feet always get freezing during the winter - my £1 hack will keep them toasty, with no need to put the heating on
The clip posted to her TikTok account @has since gone viral with over 1.1 million views and 84k likes.
People were quick to share their own experiences in the comments.
One person wrote: "I had it really bad on my legs it finally left after 4 months once I stopped using my space heater."
Another commented: "I gave this to myself once when I left my heated pack on all night on high when I was having cramps. Thankfully it went away, but this is definitely important to be aware of."
How to prevent hot water bottle burns
By following these precautions, you can enjoy the warmth and comfort of a hot water bottle while minimising the risk of burns.
- Use a Cover: Always use a fabric cover or a towel to wrap around the hot water bottle. This provides an extra layer of protection between your skin and the bottle.
- Check for Leaks: Before filling the bottle, inspect it for any signs of wear, damage, or leaks. Replace it if necessary.
- Avoid Boiling Water: Never fill the hot water bottle with boiling water. Instead, use hot (but not boiling) tap water. Boiling water can damage the bottle and increase the risk of burns.
- Fill Safely: When filling the bottle, hold it by the neck and fill it slowly to avoid splashing. Fill the bottle to a maximum of two-thirds full.
- Secure the Stopper: Ensure the stopper is securely fastened to prevent any leaks.
- Avoid Direct Contact: Do not place the hot water bottle directly on your skin. Always use it through a layer of clothing or bedding.
- Allow Cooling Time: Let the bottle cool down a bit before use, especially if the water inside is very hot.
- Supervise Use: If children or elderly individuals are using the hot water bottle, supervise them to ensure safe use.
- Replace Regularly: Replace your hot water bottle every couple of years, as the material can degrade over time and become more prone to leaks and bursts.
- Follow Instructions: Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions for safe use and maintenance of the hot water bottle.
"I got this on my stomach last year and it’s still there," penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: "I have this on my body unfortunately from my heated mattress."
"Yeah got this sitting next to a space heater near my leg cause it was too expensive to run the heater,” claimed a fifth.
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Someone else added: “Omg this happened to me from using my heating pad at work everyday.";
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