'I'm a doctor - using a hot water bottle in this way could increase your risk of cancer'

Woman holding hot water bottle
-Credit:Getty


An NHS doctor has sounded the alarm on the dangers of overusing hot water bottles, warning that not only can they cause skin burns, but they may also increase the risk of a deadly cancer. He advised people to moderate their use of this popular heat source and shared additional safety tips.

Hot water bottles are a go-to for many seeking warmth during the chilly season and offer comfort to those with certain medical conditions such as endometriosis, joint inflammation, and back pain. Nonetheless, dependency on them could pose significant health hazards.

Doctor Suraj Kukadia, widely known as Dr Sooj on TikTok, raised awareness about the potential consequences of excessive use. He cautioned: "Do you know what happens if you use a hot water bottle, you could end up with a rash like this? "

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He went on to explain that overindulgence in hot water bottles can lead to a condition called erythema ab igne, which manifests as patchy or net-like skin discolouration. "This is called erythema ab igne, which literally translates to redness from fire," Dr Sooj said.

"It happens when your skin is chronically exposed to infrared radiation in the form of heat like using a hot water bottle or a heating pad over and over again in the same spot. Limited heat exposure that isn't enough to cause a direct burn, causes a mild and temporary red rash, that looks like lace work or a fishing net."

However, there's a concerning link to skin cancer. He warned: "But prolonged and repeated exposure causes a marked redness and colouring of the skin. And in some there is even an increased risk of skin cancer."

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A 2022 medical report in the Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology Case Reports backs up his concerns, highlighting that erythema ab igne can lead to skin cancers like squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma, as well as cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma.

In the report, medical experts note that these conditions can develop "10 to 30 years" after erythema ab igne appears. To prevent erythema ab igne, Dr Sooj advises taking precautions.

He recommends: "Remember our skin is not built to handle intense repetitive heat. So make sure you avoid the source of chronic heat exposure, whatever it is, put a fabric cover on your hot water bottle.

"Avoid putting it in the same spots every time and limit use to 20 minutes at a time." Additionally, he urged: "And if you're using heat therapy because of chronic pain, please go and see a doctor to get it sorted."