No laps for warm laptops; skin damage possible

Have you ever worked on your laptop computer with it sitting on your lap, heating up your legs? If so, you might want to rethink that habit.

According to a new medical report, it can lead to "toasted skin syndrome," a condition caused by long-term heat exposure.

"In the old days, we would see them from heating pads, causing this raised, almost net-like rash on the thighs or wherever a heating pad may be applied like the back. But with the advent of computers, we see a fair amount of it on the legs, but only with long exposures and usually to bare skin," says Dr Vail Reese, a dermatologist.

Children with more sensitive skin may be especially at risk. Researchers say, in very rare cases, it can cause damage leading to skin cancer.

"Aside from the heat, who knows what other electromagnetic fields are coming out of your laptop as well. So yeah, I buy it," says Meimei Fox, a laptop user.

Another medical report found heat from laptops can decrease sperm production in men.

"It's concerning because it feels so warm. It doesn't feel healthy and when you hear it's not healthy, I try to avoid it," says Stephen Elliott, also a laptop user.

Doctors say simply putting a pillow between the laptop and your skin can help prevent problems.