Erythema ab igne induced by a laptop computer.

Erythema ab igne (EAI) or ‘toasted skin’ is a reticular, telangiectatic, pigmented dermatosis, occuring after long-term exposure to infrared radiation that is insufficient to produce a burn [1]. Only few case report is founded in literature about laptop computerinduced erythema ab igne [2]. A 31-year-old woman presented with a 8-week history of an asymptomatic patch on her left thigh. On physical examination, there was a fairly well-defined, brown, mildly erythematous, reticulated patch on the left anterior thigh (Figure). This asymptomatic eruption was noticed 1 week before acceptance. The patient is a medical staff who spends a considerable amount of time each night using her computer. She frequently placed the computer on her anterior thighs while at work. She stopped placing the computer on her thighs after she repeatedly experienced discomfort from heat emitted from the base of the laptop. The lesion was isolated to the left anterior thigh, because the heat source (optical drive) was located on the left base of the computer. By stopping the heat exposure, progression could be halted and adjuvan theraphy was not needed for treatment.