Heated Seats and Toasted Skin Syndrome

Z Ninja · 11-15-2014, 10:56 PM

The first time I experienced a heated seat, the driver warned me, "You might feel like you wet yourself." That description stuck and I could never forget equating peeing your pants with turning on my heated seat. But like most of you that purchased a Z with heated seats, it's something that feels so good, it's almost like sitting in a hot tub; especially that brutally cold morning when everything feels like and ice cube and your heater isn't working yet.

But through my curiosity about heated seats, I discovered some odd information that not everyone may be aware of. Those bun warmers may be causing a strange skin condition known as "Toasted Skin Syndrome" or Erythema ab igne, which is latin for, "redness from fire." Some other strange and funny nicknames for this condition are fire stains, hot water bottle rash, laptop thigh, and granny's tartan.

Turns out that prolonged exposure to heat can cause an unusual spiderweb brown rash on the skin that is unsightly and sometimes itchy, but not serious. Even the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administrator had begun an investigation in to alleged burns due to poor or malfunctioning seat heaters. Some interesting links below...

Erythema ab igne - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Toasted Skin Syndrome: Car Seat Warmers Could Lead To Unsightly Condition
Heated car seats could reduce male fertility, say scientists - Telegraph

But casting aside the weirdness with heated seats, has anyone noticed in their Z, that if you turn the seat on high, it seems to turn off prematurely and not warm up as much as keeping it on low? It acts as though, on high, the temperature inside the unit heats up too rapidly and turns itself off before it's really had a chance to warm up. By keeping it on low, I seem to get better characteristics, but sometimes do feel the need to turn it off as it starts to get a bit too toast after a while. At least there is a high and a low. My previous car only had on and off, and it frequently got way too hot after a while, so I welcome finally having a low setting.

nismo9132 · 11-17-2014, 09:22 AM

As far as the high setting turning off early- you're probably right. I know Honda used to have an issue with heated seats on "high" setting the car on fire after becoming too hot.

nghivinhton · 11-17-2014, 09:30 AM

I've never really hard problem with them, but i never used it for myself really, only for the ladies on the passenger side and they all love it. I also tried on both high/low, and high usually gets very hot so i would then just switch to low.

Dirk McGurck · 11-17-2014, 09:43 AM

Oh god my ***!

kenchan · 11-17-2014, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nismo9132

As far as the high setting turning off early- you're probably right. I know Honda used to have an issue with heated seats on "high" setting the car on fire after becoming too hot.

Low
High
Fire

settings...

Zerocool · 11-17-2014, 09:54 AM

lol 3rd degree burn setting! hell yeah!

Bking · 11-17-2014, 10:44 AM

Yeah not a big fan of heated seats. I only turn on low for a few minutes and I'll turn it off. Like nghivinhton said, all the ladies LOVE the heated seat, especially on high.

Also extra heat on your balls ain't healthy either.

IDZRVIT · 11-17-2014, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bking

Yeah not a big fan of heated seats. I only turn on low for a few minutes and I'll turn it off. Like nghivinhton said, all the ladies LOVE the heated seat, especially on high.

Also extra heat on your balls ain't healthy either.

Only if your trying to make babies - it reduces your sperm count!

11-15-2014, 10:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Z Ninja Base Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Lake Stevens, WA Posts: 58 Drives: 14 370Z BLK 6MT Rep Power: 10	Heated Seats and Toasted Skin Syndrome The first time I experienced a heated seat, the driver warned me, "You might feel like you wet yourself." That description stuck and I could never forget equating peeing your pants with turning on my heated seat. But like most of you that purchased a Z with heated seats, it's something that feels so good, it's almost like sitting in a hot tub; especially that brutally cold morning when everything feels like and ice cube and your heater isn't working yet. But through my curiosity about heated seats, I discovered some odd information that not everyone may be aware of. Those bun warmers may be causing a strange skin condition known as "Toasted Skin Syndrome" or Erythema ab igne, which is latin for, "redness from fire." Some other strange and funny nicknames for this condition are fire stains, hot water bottle rash, laptop thigh, and granny's tartan. Turns out that prolonged exposure to heat can cause an unusual spiderweb brown rash on the skin that is unsightly and sometimes itchy, but not serious. Even the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administrator had begun an investigation in to alleged burns due to poor or malfunctioning seat heaters. Some interesting links below... Erythema ab igne - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Toasted Skin Syndrome: Car Seat Warmers Could Lead To Unsightly Condition Heated car seats could reduce male fertility, say scientists - Telegraph But casting aside the weirdness with heated seats, has anyone noticed in their Z, that if you turn the seat on high, it seems to turn off prematurely and not warm up as much as keeping it on low? It acts as though, on high, the temperature inside the unit heats up too rapidly and turns itself off before it's really had a chance to warm up. By keeping it on low, I seem to get better characteristics, but sometimes do feel the need to turn it off as it starts to get a bit too toast after a while. At least there is a high and a low. My previous car only had on and off, and it frequently got way too hot after a while, so I welcome finally having a low setting.

11-17-2014, 09:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dirk McGurck Track Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Delaware Posts: 715 Drives: 09 MB 370Z Touring Rep Power: 20	Oh god my ***! __________________ 2009 370Z Touring with Sport

11-17-2014, 09:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
Zerocool Track Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: N.Y Posts: 548 Drives: '09 370z Rep Power: 15	lol 3rd degree burn setting! hell yeah! __________________ I like pizza

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11-17-2014, 09:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
nismo9132 Base Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Nismo Posts: 61 Drives: 2012 370Z NISMO Rep Power: 10	As far as the high setting turning off early- you're probably right. I know Honda used to have an issue with heated seats on "high" setting the car on fire after becoming too hot.

11-17-2014, 09:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
nghivinhton Base Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Garland Posts: 47 Drives: 2011 Z Sport Prl Wht Rep Power: 10	I've never really hard problem with them, but i never used it for myself really, only for the ladies on the passenger side and they all love it. I also tried on both high/low, and high usually gets very hot so i would then just switch to low.

11-17-2014, 10:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
Bking Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver Posts: 298 Drives: 40th Z Rep Power: 14	Yeah not a big fan of heated seats. I only turn on low for a few minutes and I'll turn it off. Like nghivinhton said, all the ladies LOVE the heated seat, especially on high. Also extra heat on your balls ain't healthy either.