What is toasted skin syndrome?

Toasted skin syndrome occurs when skin is exposed to heat for long periods of time, and appears as a darkened, sometimes patterned, discoloration on the skin. The condition can cause permanent skin discoloration and may even lead to skin cancer, depending on the degree of damage. In the old days, people who worked near high heat sources, such as bakers and blacksmiths, were often affected. Today, many people get it simply from keeping high-powered, heat-generating laptops on their laps for hours at a time.