Beautician shares warning against roasting your skin with hot water bottles
A SKIN expert has revealed the real reason why you shouldn’t rely on hot water bottles and space heaters to stay warm this winter.
While they can be useful to save money on heating costs in winter, beautician Sarah Maxwell said there is downsizing that can have damaging consequences.
2
2
She said: “This is a PSA for anyone who uses hot water bottles, heat sources such as a space heater, a heated mattress or a heated blanket.
“You have to be careful not to give yourself erythema ab igne, also known as toasted skin syndrome.”
It is a skin condition caused by prolonged exposure to heat; Prolonged exposure to thermal radiation of the skin can lead to the development of reticular erythema, hyperpigmentation, scaling and telangiectasia in the affected area.
She revealed that she accidentally gave it to herself at her clinic while working there Canada where it is cold.
READ MORE ABOUT STAYING WARM
To keep herself warm while doing beauty treatments, she always had her heater on and soon noticed a rash on her legs where the heat hit her directly.
Sarah added: “It almost looks like mottled blotches pink rash and at first I didn’t know what it was, and then as it got worse I realized it was the space heater, and I was actually roasting my skin while giving people facials.”
She said as soon as she realized what it was, she moved the stove and the rash slowly started to fade.
But for those who use a lot of direct heat sources, it can take years to get rid of the rash.
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 that you have to be very careful when using a heat source so that you don’t give yourself roasted skin.”
The clip was posted to her TikTok account @maxandwell_ has since gone viral with over 1.1 million views and 84,000 likes.
People were quick to share their own experiences in the comments.
One person wrote: “My legs were really bothering me, it finally went away after four months when I stopped using my space heater.”
Another commented: “I gave myself this once when I left my heated pack on high all night when I had cramps. Luckily it went away, but this is definitely important to be aware of .”
This is how you prevent burns in a hot water bottle
By following these precautions, you can enjoy the warmth and comfort of a hot water bottle while minimizing the risk of burns.
- Use a cover: Always use a cloth cover or towel to wrap the hot water bottle. This provides an extra layer of protection between your skin and the bottle.
- Check for leaks: Before filling, inspect the bottle for signs of wear, damage or leakage. Replace this 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, hold the bottle by the neck and fill it slowly to avoid splashing. Fill the bottle to a maximum of two-thirds.
- Tighten the stopper: Make sure the stopper is tight to prevent leakage.
- 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: Allow the bottle to cool slightly before use, especially if the water in it is very hot.
- Monitor usage: If children or the elderly use the hot water bottle, please supervise it to ensure safe use.
- Replace regularly: Replace your hot water bottle every few years as the material can deteriorate over time and become more prone to leaking and cracking.
- Follow the 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,” wrote a third.
Meanwhile, a fourth said: “I unfortunately have this on my body due to my heated mattress.”
“Yes, I have this next to a space heater near my leg because it was too expensive to run the heat,” claimed a fifth.
Someone else added: “Omg this happened to me from using my heating pad every day at work.”
Fabulous pays for your exclusive stories. Just email fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and put EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.
