Toasted thighs and other laptop hazards   

            Toasted skin syndrome is a modern malady blamed on laptop computers but it’s something that our grandparents were aware of. Hot water bottles, those ugly, unwieldy red rubber bags that were applied to sore muscles and painful backs sometimes caused superficial burns when the water that was poured into them was too hot. A generation later the careless use of heating pads caused the same problem, pain and redness that took a couple of days to go away. The heating pad is obviously a technological improvement but because it can produce heat for a much longer time than a hot water bottle it can lead to more severe burns, especially in patients with diabetes, who often have poor sensation in the legs.

            Laptop computers are the latest reason for toasted skin syndrome and the area affected – no surprise – is the front of the upper thigh. On airplanes, in student lounges and coffee shops I have watched young persons casually typing away on a laptop perched – where else – on the lap. The designers of those convenient computers are aware of the heat that they generate and some of them warn users about the hazards. Most do not.

            The first sign of toasted skin syndrome is sunburn-like reddening of the skin but a mottled appearance occurs with longer exposure. If the condition is ignored there may be long-term discoloration and degeneration of the skin. Some dermatologists warn that skin cancer is a potential hazard. That has not yet been seen in laptop users but there are numerous reports of skin cancer from other sources of heat injury. Time will tell.

            The cure is simple: use the laptop on a desk or table. For the dedicated laptopper there are plenty of gadgets available to use as heat shields but something as simple as a magazine placed under the unit will solve the problem.

            The propensity for young people to assume uncomfortable-looking positions while using laptop and notebook computers is a more likely cause of problems. Neck, shoulder and back pain are common complaints, sometimes as a result of carrying a three- or four-pound computer on a shoulder strap.

            There is a glimmer of hope in the recent trend toward smaller notebook-type and tablet computers. They aren’t well suited to the lap, they generate less heat and they are so light that carrying one all day isn’t likely to cause much discomfort.