‘Toasted skin’ is the itchy condition every parent should know about

Medical experts have emphasised that it’s important to recognise any early symptoms (Picture: Getty Images)

Doctors are encouraging parents to remain vigilant after a young boy in the UK was diagnosed with erythema ab igne (EAI), otherwise known as ‘toasted skin syndrome’.

Caused by prolonged exposure to low-level heat, EAI typically appears as a red or brown, net-like rash.

Those who’ve used hot water bottles or heating pads may be familiar with the condition, but in this case, the young boy’s rash was triggered by his laptop.

The child developed ‘toasted skin syndrome’ after keeping his laptop on his stomach for up to eight hours a day.

A 2025 survey found that one in five children spend at least seven hours a day using phones and tablets — now, medical professionals are arming parents with helpful guidance to avoid EAI.

In 2024, the UK government revealed that screen use has been found to start as early as six months of age (Picture: Getty Images)

Why is it called ‘toasted skin syndrome’?

Unlike a traditional burn, EAI can be caused by low-level heat.

It’s called ‘toasted skin syndrome’ because the skin can look as though it has been repeatedly exposed to heat.

Over time, it’s this exposure that affects the small blood vessels in the skin, leaving behind the characteristic red, brown or mottled, almost net-like pattern.

Pharmacist and health commentator Thorrun Govind tells Metro that one of the reasons people might not realise it’s happening is because the condition doesn’t tend to be necessarily painful.

‘Some people can experience itching, burning or tenderness’, she explains. ‘For others, the first thing they notice is simply a change in the appearance of their skin’.

Unlike a burn, you may not initially realise that you have ‘toasted skin syndrome’ (Picture: Getty Images)

In the case of the unnamed boy who recently developed the syndrome, BMJ Case Reports suggest that the patient was presented to a children’s emergency department with ‘spontaneous bruising’.

The boy was otherwise totally healthy. He didn’t have any history of trauma, illness or other symptoms such as fever, weight loss or fatigue. So, after a number of tests, he was ultimately discharged.

Then, several weeks later, he returned after the rash significantly progressed.

Questioning from doctors ultimately revealed that the patient was being home-schooled and would often rest his laptop on his stomach for up to eight hours a day, often while charging.

According to the report, the rash totally cleared up after they removed the heat source.

Are kids more at risk?

In the young boy’s case study report, experts indicated that his experience ‘highlights the importance of considering EAI in children’, specifically in the ‘context of increasing electronic device use’.

The report suggested that early recognition could help prevent misdiagnosis and avoid unnecessary investigations.

While Thorrun doesn’t believe that we’ve gathered enough evidence to ‘definitively say that it is becoming more common in children and teenagers’, she does think it’s important parents understand the risks.

‘With young children, I would have a lower threshold for being cautious.

‘They may not recognise something is too warm or be able to tell an adult that their skin is uncomfortable’.

While the rash should ultimately fade, it can be extremely uncomfortable for young children (Picture: Getty)

She continues: ‘It may also be that we are recognising it more readily now.

‘Our habits around technology have certainly changed so it is something that the public need to be more aware of. The important message is simply to be aware of prolonged heat exposure, particularly when a device is being used directly against the skin’.

Generation Alpha kids spend a majority of their lives on a tablet or phone. In fact, one recent study found that a quarter of British children born after 2010 would rather spend time on their iPad, tablet, or smart speaker than socialise with their peers in person.

This is the reality we’ve become accustomed to. And, just as it’s important to understand the role technology plays in children’s emotional and mental health, we need to consider its impact on their physical wellbeing, too.

If you do notice your child developing a rash you believe to be ‘toasted skin syndrome’, Thorrun recommends you immediately stop the heat exposure, keep it moisturised and protected.

And, of course, if the pigmentation persists or you are concerned, speak to a dermatologist.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk

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