So many people are shocked to know about this …

[AnnaFB]

Heating pad discoloration, even severe, CAN go away. It just takes a while. I have personal experience with this issue, so don’t despair.

[kasianne]

I’ll take my rash over pelvic pain from endometriosis. Being able to take some edge off the pain with an electric heat pad (even if it means roasting my skin a bit) isn’t really “optional” for me.

[shelbybell]

If you’re using these things MODERATELY, you’re fine. It’s constant and prolonged exposure that causes this.

[ladyclovenstone]

In Scotland this rash is called fireside tartan 😅

[SP-ospf]

As someone with endometriosis it's pretty unavoidable

[maryshannon]

I was going to agree with another commenter that it's not really optional for those of us who live with chronic pain. No heating pad, no sleep, no comfortable position, no relief.

[angelalovell]

Some of us have chronic illnesses that don't allow for us to avoid the old Granny's Tartan. If you don't, definitely realise that this is a thing and try to avoid it. But some of us are resigned to our dragon skin, for lack of any other form of yteatment or pain medication.

[yutuberculosis]

I've gotten this temporarily from heating pads for bad cramps, it has to be pretty hot for this to happen so most people probably don't need to worry about it too much if they keep it on low heat

[stephaniebateman]

I was okay avoiding all of these until you said “heated seats”! Oh no!! I love those 😢

[thingscarlaloves]

Thank you so much for this PSA! As someone who has a lot of chronic pain, I use heating pads a lot, and I've had these "rashes" before. I've stopped using them in those places, and moved it around, but I do have a question: What would you recommend to help with chronic pain? (Heat has always worked so well for me.) And do you have any tips to help with the rash?

Thank you so much for your time (though I understand if you don't see this/don't have time to respond). I'm so grateful for this PSA.

[letsallgoforawalk]

When I was homeless I used a space heater in a broken rv. It was so cold the heat couldnt travel through the air so I had to be so close to it that it burnt me permanently. It never warmed me up cause the heat wouldn't travel so I just repeatedly burnt myself trying to make it work. But honestly, the stress of being homeless also made it so that burning myself was a coping thing..

[MalloryKnox.]

I’m 25 and grew up in one of the last houses in Scotland to have a coal fire as its only heat source, now it’s illegal.
I had a weird rash as a kid that took years to go away, and this is me just now finding out what it was.

Every morning me and my sister would bathe, and sit for ages directly in front on the fire naked to dry. We were very young and it was only our mother around Incase anyone thinks that’s odd 😅
I had this weird rash for like 10 years on only my left side, but it has disapeared now.

[itsonlyllll]

Whats sad to me it this is happening because peoples pain isnt taken seriously and the heat is their only relief. Also not having enough money to adequately heat the home ❤

[Vanessa-rukl]

I have this on my stomach from a heating pad, but the alternative is pain from my ulcerative colitis... I don't feel like I have a choice.

[denisehair]

We called it corn beef legs when I was a kid in the ‘60’s. Usually from sitting or standing too close to an open fire.

[kajag]

Honestly, if someone is using a hot water bottle often enough to cause this, they probably have much more pressing medical issues tham a cosmetic thing.

[allysonbergman]

I absolutely need a heating pad for my cramps!! I do get this rash and it usually goes away but ive also started using a French "burn" cream called biafene on the areas to accelerate clearance of it because i hate the way it looks. Just fyi for anyone who needs a heat source but wants to be proactive

[RaeRaeOR]

Heated blankets are a necessity for me with moderate to severe chronic body pain. If I develop this rash I guess I will just learn to live with it.

[blkophelia]

I'm okay with a rash, especially when my back muscles seize up otherwise. I do wish there were more images of it on darker skin cause my mom was stressed out about it on me and us not knowing what it was

[toulousesho]

as someone with severe period pains it’s necessary