Resting electronic device on bare skin risks disfigurement due to heat, doctors warn

Doctors are cautioning that placing electronic devices directly on bare skin can lead to dangerous skin disfigurement. In a case report published in BMJ Case Reports, a child developed skin discoloration and a fishnet-like rash due to repeated exposure to the low-grade heat emitted by a laptop. This condition, known as erythema ab igne, is typically more common in adults who use hot-water bottles and heating pads, but has now increasingly been seen in children due to the widespread use of electronic devices.

The case involved a preteen boy who had a one-week history of an abdominal rash and bruising, which initially caused concern for a liver injury. However, his blood tests and abdominal scans were normal, and he was discharged. Two weeks later, the rash had worsened, and he returned to the hospital. Further questioning revealed that the boy used a laptop for educational purposes while resting it on his abdomen for up to eight hours daily while also charging it.

He was diagnosed with erythema ab igne and instructed to stop placing the laptop on his body. After being advised to remove the heat source, the condition gradually improved, and the rash disappeared. The report authors highlight that the use of electronic devices, especially during homeschooling, has become an under-recognized cause of erythema ab igne in pediatric populations.

While the condition generally clears up when the heat source is removed, chronic exposure can potentially lead to persistent pigmentation or, in rare cases, malignant transformation.