The Global Cross-Hair Enigma that looks like Hair Dryer Burns

Mick West

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The above two slides are from a talk by famous UFO investigator Jacques Vallee. The talk came up because scientist Garry Nolan (who sometimes works with Vallee) mentioned a later aspect of the case (a star-shaped mark on a photo and a giant UFO nobody noticed) in a recent interview with Tucker Carlson.

But someone in the comments pointed out the likely cause in April 2022:
The Paisley Wave 4 months ago
With all respect for Dr. Vallee, the 'crosshair' marks may have a simple explanation. Search for images of blowdryers and you'll see many, especially the older ones, have metal crosshair-shaped grills at their openings. They get hot and can burn the skin leaving marks corresponding with their shape, a crosshair. Note that most of these appear on women, who are more likely to use blow dryers.
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And indeed, there is a strong resemblance:
2022-08-03_12-25-00.jpg

2022-08-03_13-44-45.jpg

Vallee discussed this hypothesis in the video, but, for reasons that are not clear, he dismissed it.

Of course, we know, we've tried to look at that and say, What kind of symbol is it? Well, the first thing we thought about is, if you look at our hairdryer, you know, you turn the hairdryer towards you. And you look at the end of the hairdryer, it looks like this. Okay, so we thought maybe, you know, this, this woman, I mean, women use hairdryer more than we guys do. So maybe she burned herself with their hairdryer. Well, if you try to do that, you're going to get burned, alright. But it's not going to look like this. Okay, you will have a burn. And so, so it's not that. Although in some cases, the dimensions are pretty much the same as the ones on the grid in the front of your hairdryer. But it's not always the same pattern. As you could see the pattern changes. Then you look at, you know, ancient literature and symbol books of symbols, and so on. And there is a pattern that looks exactly like that. Three, concentric circles, and radio lines. And that's a pattern of Atlantis.
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As well as the dimensions matching, all of the various shapes are shaped of hairdryer grills:

2022-08-03_13-55-00.jpg

The marks look very like superficial burns from a brief contact.
2022-08-03_14-05-38.jpg
The partial marks could obviously come from a hairdryer at an angle (as seen in the medical journal image).

So his dismissal of hairdryers (and the subsequent leap into Atlantean symbology) makes no sense. Hairdryer is by far the most likely explanation.

UPDATE: The hairdryer owned by the individual in Vallee's case matches her burn:

Vallee's case is in the French Traces circulaires cutanées database as case 151. In the questionnaire, she says she has a hairdryer, a Lidl Silvercrest. She did not have a photo.
2022-08-05_08-17-39.jpg

Posted publicly here:
https://touraine-insolite.clicforum.fr/t987-tranges-traces-circulaires-cutan-es.htm?start=240 (https://archive.ph/Ss9FM)


I found a video of one.
2022-08-05_07-55-31.jpg
You see the slightly domed grill which means you will get only partial contact, depending on angle and pressure. Note the heating elements are very close to the grill.

It matches her burn.

(slight perspective distortion as the original image is at a slight angle and skin is not flat)

Given this coincidence, and with the other evidence in this thread, I think this is very likely an accidental burn from a brief bump against the skin, forgotten, and then the burn noticed days later.
 
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Here's a page on an abductee site discussing the marks, with no mention of hairdryers.
Article:
Individuals, who find these marks on their bodies, usually discover them upon waking, showering, etc. To this date, no one has had any memories related to how the mark(s) got on their bodies. The marks usually last only a few days, then disappear, although, some have left a more permanent image that is lighter than the surrounding skin. There have been no reports of pain associated with the marks.

They include three examples:
cross-hair-nc-5x4.jpgcross-hair-to-4x5.jpgcrosshair-ha-5x4.jpg

And on other pages:
crosshair_3cr.jpgcrosshair_a.jpg

crosshair_c1_wide-angle.jpgcrosshair_c1.jpg
Image023b.jpg
 
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adding in case people think the mark on that last pic is too small to be a hairdryer. they do make mini hairdryers now

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(that's dried paint, not ectoplasma on my dryer..its my art dryer.)
 
its kinda cute. the outer ring is just the rim of the dryer as i just pressed it against my knee a bit. (not gonna burn myself for a debunk). anyway, so yea a burn is totally doable.

20220803_222829.jpg
 
So are these people burning themselves intentionally to claim to be abductees or what?

Some of the those burns look quite bad, the rightmost one of the top trio, that has gotta have hurt if its scabbing over like that, no way you'd not notice that.

1659596900146.png

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN06OnM1rcc


This video shows a boy apparently burned intentionally with a hairdryer the burns are described as second degree burns
 
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So are these people burning themselves intentionally to claim to be abductees or what?

As per the apt demonstration by @deirdre, it's highly unlikely that the hairdrier is accidentally pressed long enough to cause even such superficial burns as showcased in the OP. Hence, it's definitely intentional, whether self-inflicted or done with someone else's help.

Seems like a cheap way to draw attention and get a reaction from the alien-believing community. Many people need to be noticed, whether they believe in aliens or not.
 
In my hair dryer, the 'vanes' of the dryer are slightly inset from the end of the nozzle, and would not touch a flat surface if the nozzle is just held against it. If it is hot enough, you might still get a simple circular burn, but not the complex patterns shown in the photos. In order for the vanes to contact the skin, either the flesh must be rounded (like the heel of one's hand), or the nozzle must be pressed against the flesh. This suggests that many of these burns are deliberately inflicted, either by the 'victim', or by someone else. (Though some might be from accidental pressure, if the victim sits or lies on the dryer while it is still hot. And in some cases drink may have been taken.)

This assumes that the 'inset' arrangement of the vanes is typical. From the photos above, it does seem to be. The vanes are presumably intended as a safety feature, to prevent fingers or other body parts coming into contact with the heating elements or fans, though this is more of an issue with vacuum cleaners! Another danger with hair dryers is that long hair might fall down the nozzle and catch fire, though this seems unlikely while the dryer is still blowing.
 
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As per the apt demonstration by @deirdre, it's highly unlikely that the hairdrier is accidentally pressed long enough to cause even such superficial burns as showcased in the OP. Hence, it's definitely intentional, whether self-inflicted or done with someone else's help.

Seems like a cheap way to draw attention and get a reaction from the alien-believing community. Many people need to be noticed, whether they believe in aliens or not.

It also dovetails with other forms of and reasons for self-harm.
However, if you do self-harm as a way of bringing attention to yourself, remember that there is nothing wrong with wanting to be noticed and to have your distress acknowledged and taken seriously. You also deserve a sympathetic response from those around you, including medical professionals.
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-- https://www.mind.org.uk/information...alth-problems/self-harm/why-people-self-harm/
 
It also dovetails with other forms of and reasons for self-harm.
However, if you do self-harm as a way of bringing attention to yourself, remember that there is nothing wrong with wanting to be noticed and to have your distress acknowledged and taken seriously. You also deserve a sympathetic response from those around you, including medical professionals.
Content from External Source
-- https://www.mind.org.uk/information...alth-problems/self-harm/why-people-self-harm/

Thanks for the reminder of adopting a kinder view towards self-harmers.
 
Unfortunately, it does look like there are at least some cases of deliberate self-harm. It's very important to be compassionate here. It's also likely to be an unpalatable explanation for much of the UFO community, as they place a lot of weight on trusting "experiencers." There will very likely be howls of outrage at the suggestion that some people have deliberately burned themselves with a hairdryer and then lied about it or suppressed the memory.

But that is very much what it looks like, at least in some cases. And Munchausen's is a real thing.
Article:
Munchausen syndrome (factitious disorder imposed on self) is when someone tries to get attention and sympathy by falsifying, inducing, and/or exaggerating an illness. They lie about symptoms, sabotage medical tests (like putting blood in their urine), or harm themselves to get the symptoms. Diagnosing and treating Munchausen syndrome is difficult because of the person’s dishonesty.

If you have Munchausen syndrome, you may undergo painful or risky medical tests and operations in order to get the sympathy and special attention given to people who are truly ill. You may secretly injure yourself to cause signs of illness. ... Some people will cut or burn themselves...


Since it's very unlikely that any of these cases could be investigated, the abductee-friendly community will generally prefer to believe that the marks are the result of contact with non-humans – possibly either disguised to look like a hairdryer burn, or an actual hairdryer burn as the result of the abduction. There's very little that can be done to address such a hypothesis, as it seems reasonable to them.

That said, I think that the partial burn that Vallee showed seems superficial enough to be accidental and possible not even noticed at the time – depending on what was going on at the time. The image below shows an accidental burn on the left, and the mysterious burn on the right.
 
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The one on the right looks more healed to me, like it might have been worse initially, but I am no burns expert.

You are right about this being a difficult subject, in just searching hairdryer burns most of the other references I came across were related to child abuse :(

But forcing the issue to the point were we essentially have to conclude people are making stuff up or lying is something we have to face occasionally, but in this instance it is more upfront given the nature of the evidence.
 
i could see some of the burns being accidental. my mini gets ultra hot (which is why it got designated to my art room). and i never put my dryer etc down on my sink counter because it might be wet.
i can see the front shoulder ones or the hip being accidental as you switch it off (or not) and lean in the get closer to the mirror to look at something.
or the appliance slips a bit as many women have multiple tools in their hand when styling.

i know with a curling iron (which is direct contact) the burn happens in a nanosecond. not sure how long it takes for not-as-hot metal that is 1/8th inch away to happen. explains the one side often being missing too, because you are just leaning your dryer (tilted) against shoulder or hip.

a mild burn you would forget about. you'd go "oh, ouch!" but youre busy getting ready, and if mild the pain goes away in a few minutes. I'm not sure it would dawn on you the next day that your round hairdryer nozzle left that shape mark.

many of those seem somewhat "light", the guys in highschool used to burn designs in their shoulders with heated knives and bowls (that you smoke pot out of), you get a mark pretty fast and ones held on for a while get all scabby and gross for a while.

(i think some are intentional of course, its not like women are burning themselves with their hairdryers left and right, and then what percentage of those rare occurrences would think they are abducted?)

i'm not sure what substance to use to test. possibilities.
i never read a manual with a hairdryer, im sure some ae online. if that is a thing it would probably have a warning in the manual. my mini is called Babyliss Pro TT 1500.
 
ps. i dont know (i could be wrong, im not a psychiatrist) if most of these fall under "self harm". i (and several female friends) used to carve the name of our favorite bands in our arms or legs. The guys would burn things in. it's like tattoos for people without access to tattoos.

are tattoos self harm?

anyway, self harm is a serious repetitive thing. and usually doesnt involve pretty designs.
I'm also a bit insulted for self harm gals that that article says 'as a way to bring attention to yourself', pretty sure most self harm people hide it.
 
I'm also a bit insulted for self harm gals that that article says 'as a way to bring attention to yourself', pretty sure most self harm people hide it.

From a straight white anglo-saxon 70s-born male perspective - The ones you do know about don't try to hide it, and the ones you don't know about clearly do a better job of hiding it (and because of that could be way more numerous - a classic example of selection bias). I've known a handful, and to try to fit them into a single pigeonhole would be futile, each had a different story. At one extreme was one who was clearly aiming for the more superficial of wounds, and would start her thing at parties. Believe it or not, she did succeed in getting some attention. But that was an outlier. Another was carrying deep permanent scars, alas she was a friend of a friend I'd only meet in passing, and I never really had a chance to hear her full story. As she was dating another friend of a friend I never felt it was appropriate to hog her time privately. I suspect the former is the one closer to the hairdryer abusers, as unless you mess up those brief burns will heal fully. There are a lot of people in the world, even tiny subsets of small minorities can be large in number.
 
anyway, self harm is a serious repetitive thing. and usually doesnt involve pretty designs.
There's some evidence of repetition here:


The self-harm you hear about the most is things like cutting – but burns are often mentioned. It is usually a private thing. Seeking attention is more of a Munchausen's Syndrome.
 
i guess all im saying is that young people (esp) do lots of things to "get attention". they put those ugly plugs in their ears (self mutilation), we put nose rings and even regular earring in our ears (self mutilation), tattoos (self mutilation) we dye our hair purple, etc.

i think there are enough psychology issues around thinking you were abducted, that we don't need to throw other symptoms like (self harm, or even Munchausens..which seems more extreme to me) into the mix. That's just my opinion.
 
I am convinced mr Vallee is biased in all his research. He comes across a little too gullible to anything presented to him. That's why the ufo community loves him so much.
 
i could see some of the burns being accidental. my mini gets ultra hot (which is why it got designated to my art room). and i never put my dryer etc down on my sink counter because it might be wet.
i can see the front shoulder ones or the hip being accidental as you switch it off (or not) and lean in the get closer to the mirror to look at something.
or the appliance slips a bit as many women have multiple tools in their hand when styling.
There's also virtually identical tools called heat guns that are far hotter than a hair dryer. Mine can hit 1600 F according to the box, and as much as tool makers exaggerate their tools power the grid on the end of mine melted into a plastic toolbox after being off for several minutes so it gets terrifyingly hot.

Higher temperature means lower margin for error and faster injuries when they happen. Even getting a finger in front of mine will leave me with what feels like a bad sunburn.

Most of the burns shown seem pretty end-on with good complete contact, which doesn't look like an accident to me. The reflex to pull away from a burn is strong but controllable if you're anticipating the pain. The very first one, with part of an arc and two rays, is the only one that looks like like it could be an accident.


And while it's important to be sympathetic and not attack someone who may be self-harming, it's also important to recognize and acknowledge self-harm as what it is and not to reinforce any delusion around it, or a lie the person is telling about it. Doing that sympathetically is touchy because sometimes people hurting themselves and lying about it get very invested in the story.
 
yea. i have two. but we need an end that would match those OP burns.

This heat gun nozzle seems to (almost) match the burn on the image below in terms of both shape and size. But the other burns in the OP look more like hair dryer marks. The central circle should be hollow though.


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Image023b.jpg
 
Would be interesting to get more info on these cases. We now only have this youtube talk from Vallee. The testimonies might hint more.
 
Would be interesting to get more info on these cases. We now only have this youtube talk from Vallee. The testimonies might hint more.
There are more hints at this site:

Article:
Individuals, who find these marks on their bodies, usually discover them upon waking, showering, etc. To this date, no one has had any memories related to how the mark(s) got on their bodies. The marks usually last only a few days, then disappear, although, some have left a more permanent image that is lighter than the surrounding skin. There have been no reports of pain associated with the marks.

Since 2005, we have watched certain trends emerge. For instance, there seems to be genetic components among the individuals tested which point to the peoples of the North Atlantic. (Perhaps, you might want to be thinking, “Nordics.”)
 
So I asked a few hairdryer using friends about hairdryer usage and they all always use the attachments / nozzles at the front that clip on to shape the flow:

1659685240899.png

I googled around and it seems not using this attachment is not advised and rare for actual hair drying use. The attachment would prevent the burns we see indicating you would need to be using a hairdryer in a non typical way to be exposed to the metal shape part in normal use.
 
https://www.gedlingeye.co.uk/columns/elaine-bond-help-self-harm/
https://www.isitnormal.com/post/is-...urning-myself-with-scalding-hot-water--162609

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/selfharm/comments/a7xnqr/self_harm_excuses_list_yay/
(in the comments of the reddit article)

There are mentions of hairdryer user in some self harm / adjacent articles, it does seem to be a known method.

I feel we need to know more about the interactions of the these people with Vallee, I am concerned that a legitimate issue for these people is being ignored with this abduction angle.
 
There are more hints at this site:

Article: [...] Since 2005, we have watched certain trends emerge. For instance, there seems to be genetic components among the individuals tested which point to the peoples of the North Atlantic. (Perhaps, you might want to be thinking, “Nordics.”) Source: http://aaarc.abduct.com/
translation: 'these show up best on pale skin, but we have decided to be racist about it'

I googled around and it seems not using this attachment is not advised and rare for actual hair drying use. The attachment would prevent the burns we see indicating you would need to be using a hairdryer in a non typical way to be exposed to the metal shape part in normal use.
a fair number of internet pictures of people using hair dryers lack the nozzle
so I wouldn't go as far as to say it's non-typical
 
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There seems to be more on it in French. In particular this thread has more images and accounts
https://www.ufologie-paranormal.org/t13539-etranges-traces-circulaires-cutanees

Strange circular skin marks.

People who do not know each other, who are sometimes separated by thousands of kilometers, find themselves one day with a mark on their skin. None of these people know who, or what, is responsible for this phenomenon. Nothing connects these people between them... Many testimonies of good times appear, often anonymously. There is a common point: The symbol which appears at the base of a circle with some variants in the pattern and the size. Sometimes this sign is incomplete. It looks like a burn, it disappears after a few days.
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and this one has an extensive discussion.
https://www.ufologie-paranormal.org/t13353-etranges-traces-circulaires-cutanees

Found via: https://www.sciences-faits-histoires.com/blog/paranormal/etranges-traces-circulaires-cutanees.html

Which in turn was found via a deleted Reddit post.
https://www.reveddit.com/v/Paranormal/comments/n5447i/skin_mandalas_strange_targetshaped_markings/

  • In the first years of these discussions, people thought the markings were caused by hair dryer burns. Many sceptics attempted to burn themselves with their hair dryer to prove this theory. But they couldn't let the hair dryer long enough on their skin to mark it, because it was too painful. (they only proved how dumb they were!)
Content from External Source
And another thread:
https://touraine-insolite.clicforum.fr/t1080-tranges-traces-circulaires-cutan-es.htm
 
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translation: 'these show up best on fair skin, but we have decided to be racist about it'


a fair number of internet pictures of people using hair dryers lack the nozzle
so I wouldn't go as far as to say it's non-typical
Are they really using them or pretending/using them on blow only for stock photos/advertising pictures?
 
The Touraine Insolite thread has cases with a standard questionnaire, which includes questions about hairdryers.
Article:
- Do you have a hair dryer?
Yes
- If yes, which model?
A Philips
- Do you have a picture of this device?
(Attachment)


They don't specifically ask "does the mark match", but in one case:
Article:
Strangely when I saw your question about the hair dryer I went to look and the mark I have on my upper arm and similar at the end of the hair dryer. Yet such a burn I will remember. I will send you a photo of the brand, however yes I would prefer to remain anonymous about my identity.


There's a link to a Google doc with a lot more detail, but it's protected.
 
This thread on Touraine Insolite is still ongoing:
https://touraine-insolite.clicforum.fr/t987-tranges-traces-circulaires-cutan-es.htm
Article:
There are currently 245 testimonials for 281 brands.


More patterns, including some simple circles and a hexagon pattern found on some hair dryers.
2022-08-05_02-29-48.jpg

The C number under the image is the case number. They also post images of the pdf with all the cases, but I think a lot of it is in the thread.
2022-08-05_02-31-28.jpg
 
In principle a very industrious debunker could get pretty exact measurements of each burn pattern using picture analysis and match them with the make and model of a hairdryer/heat gun with an identical pattern. If the matches are perfect and the list keeps growing, the aliens have a demonstrable fetish for torturing white women with hairdryers during their sleep.

Watch out ladies.
 
In principle a very industrious debunker could get pretty exact measurements of each burn pattern using picture analysis and match them with the make and model of a hairdryer/heat gun with an identical pattern. If the matches are perfect and the list keeps growing, the aliens have a demonstrable fetish for torturing white women with hairdryers during their sleep.

Watch out ladies.
Are there any cases in the thread with

The burn picture with known size object or ruler?
An exact known model hairdryer?

The problem is this kind of analysis works if the people presenting present accurate information, they could easily have 2 different hairdryers and present burns from one and a picture of the different one, the case of the lad with the burn and presenting the rear of the hairdryer, is a strong indication to me that there is intentional trolling going on.

I mean its almost beyond a doubt that the burns are from hairdryers, its just working out the actual form of the bunk here.
 
Case 13 explicitly rules out their hairdryer, and provides a model number. The photo I found.
Article:
1. Know if you have a hair dryer, of which brand and which model? Optionally, you can attach 2 photos (one in profile and one from the front to see the diffuser). It will be perfect.
- For the hair dryer, I will give you the information later because there I have no more time, I have to prepare the meal. Attached photos of my hair dryer as well as refs. (Tristar brand hair dryer - Model nr: HD-2333 50Hz/1200w dimensions: 12x7.8x20.5 cm Weight: 331 g)

2022-08-05_02-51-05.jpg2022-08-05_02-52-37.jpg2022-08-05_02-55-25.jpg
Article:
Case No 13
Testimony of Aldo43 of August 27, 2013 ( 1 ):
" I would like to testify about a subject for which I found an exchange of 2005 on this site,,,
I woke up this morning with a mark on the right breast which represents two circles one inside the other with 6 compartments (like Camembert slices). It is obviously not a mark left by an object or an allergy....I am trying to understand and would be happy to contact the person who has experienced the same thing, I saw the photo posted and it is exactly the same symbol as mine. This mark appeared on 08/27/2013 in the morning after a night of deep sleep, I do not wear any jewelry and do not own any object resembling this mark, I have shown it to several therapists and none have an explanation to provide myself, I felt a great energy on this mark for 3/4 days and it faded, the mark is still a little visible today. Regarding the drawing, it is 2 circles separated into six equal parts and the center line overflows on each side, the darker trace that we see in the photo is a button and is not part of the symbol. I did not undergo any examination or take any medication, nothing abnormal the day before or the previous days...» The brand remained present for 15 days, this person who lives in Haute Loire had a younger esotericism store (she is 54 years old today) the person declares previously felt tingling and a heat effect.
 
This post is key:
https://touraine-insolite.clicforum.fr/t987-tranges-traces-circulaires-cutan-es.htm?start=15#p4753
The hair dryer theory.

Following the controversy concerning the hypothesis of a hair dryer as responsible for this type of mark, it seems interesting to know how this one developed. A testimony (the only?) Comes from a blogger whose pseudo is Rae Ann on the page of her blog viciousmomma dated February 26, 2008 ( 1 ) She is a stay-at-home mother of three children who lives in Tennessee in the United States -United. According to the latter, on the Abovetopsecret.com foruma discussion about strange marks on the body was linked to his blog. On the latter she indicates that she had an incident with her hair dryer, and that she found it funny to share her experience, and to complain about the bad design of her device. According to her, this hair dryer made in China is dangerous. She then recounts her misadventure:Last Monday I was in a rush and upset because my dad had been hospitalized with bad pneumonia. Somehow, while drying my hair, the dryer slipped out of my hand and burned my neck. It happened very quickly and at first I didn't think I had been burned that badly, because the contact with my skin was very quick. But within an hour the burn was very obvious and painful. I don't know how the metal gets so hot, but it must be very hot to burn like that... " She then states that all similar cases are caused by people who want to talk about them, and that they inflicted this mark on themselves.

essai-s-che-cheveux-03c-41bc2c5.jpg

So, according to his testimony, the contact with the skin was very brief. The blogger's hair dryer model is Conair Super max from 2008, a low-end model where there is actually no protection on the grille. She has owned it for 10 years, but uses it little (which dates the 1998 model) Further on, she indicates that the mark measures 3 cm and that it is still present after 8 days. She began to treat her burn with ointment to facilitate healing. She attaches to her article three photos (one of her burn, and two of her hair dryer)

The mark corresponds well to the drawing of the grid, the burn left is indeed similar to the other cases discovered. This unique case naturally focuses all rational explanations. Several tests were carried out using a hair dryer. The Polish site sadistic.pl , the nickname Janusz to carry out a test on August 4, 2012 with two types of device, one on his buttocks and the other on his shoulder ( 2 ) without any explanation of time, type of device , etc...
essai-s-che-cheveux-01-41bc2cd.jpg
essai-s-che-cheveux-02-41bc2db.jpg
There are also a few cases (the only ones?) concerning a burn with this type of device, these are American cases of abuse and accident on three children ( 3 ) from the University of Texas Southwestern (November 1990) . According to the information given, this type of device rises to 110° degrees C, and causes a deep burn in just 2 minutes.
brulure-41bc2e9.jpg
Sources:
( 1 ) http://viciousmomma.blogspot.fr/2008_02_01_archive.html
( 2 ) http://www.sadistic.pl/index.htm
( 3 ) http://www.springerimages.com/Images/ RSS/1-10.1007_s00414-009-0347-6-0
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2235221

Content from External Source
 
I cannot in my sober sane brain get myself convinced all cases are anything else then a self inflicted burns..
 
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