I had a 30 yo female walk in yesterday with a 4 month Hx of classic erythema 
ab 
igne on her lower back from chronic heating pad use for LBP.  Her main 
concern 
was cosmetic and she wanted a fairly precise answer about if or when this 
discoloration may resolve.  I can't recall having any patients return with 
this 
condition for followup, so I couldn't give her the guestimate she wanted.  
Anyone have any experience with the natural course of this color change 
after 
stopping heating pad use?

Kip Cullimore, MD
-----------------


Pay attention to the premalignant nature of this condition. The development 
of malignant tumours over erythema ab igne is not rare.

You can consult this case report:

M GORGOJO, JA PUJOL, G MARTINEZ, MP GRASA, FJ CARAPETO
CARCINOMA SEBACEO RECIDIVANTE ASOCIADO A CARCINOMA ESPINOCELULAR Y
ENFERMEDAD DE BOWEN DESARROLLADOS SOBRE UN ERITEMA AB IGNE.
ACTAS DERMOSIFILIOGR
1991; 82(5):309-312

Ignacio Querol-Nasarre MD
--------------------------


Slow, slow, slow...There is no precise answer.  She'll have some of 
the changes for years, I believe.  

Elliot Puritz MD
----------------