Treat Insect Bites on the Go With this iPhone Accessory
Credit: Heat-It.com
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As we approach the end of summer, many of us are spending as much time outdoors as possible with family and friends. However, it’s also peak mosquito season.
Maybe you’ve stocked up on citronella candles, but what happens if you’re traveling, camping, or hiking and forget your bug spray, leaving you without convenient access to topical creams for treating an itchy bug bite? Chances are, you’ll have your iPhone on you. You can ask AI tools about effective bite care, but ChatGPT won’t stop the itch. The good news is there’s a smartphone-powered insect bite healer that will!
The German company, Heat It, makes an eponymous device that plugs into your iPhone and quickly warms up to use heat to relieve the itch from insect bites. It doesn’t require external batteries, is chemical-free, and safe for ages 3+.
It shouldn’t impact your iPhone’s battery life either, as Heat It claims it’s good for about 1,000 uses on a single phone charge. Hopefully, you don’t have that many bites. According to Heat It, one application requires about 0.1% of your iPhone’s battery charge.
The Heat It device is used in conjunction with the Heat It iOS app. The app allows you to select from 12 modes, including a children’s mode, and temperatures ranging from 117–126°F and 4, 7, or 9-second treatment durations. The device attaches to your keychain so you can always have it with you.
Better yet, Heat It comes in two versions: a Lightning port version for iPhone 6s to iPhone 14 models and a USB-C version that works with iPhone 15 and later models, as well as Android phones. They’re both $39.95. While it’s not cheap, neither are anti-itch creams, which are less portable and have a shorter shelf life.
A study published by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) on the efficacy of heat as a treatment for insect bites confirms that Heat’s claims aren’t hocus-pocus. The study entitled “Efficacy of Concentrated Heat for Treatment of Insect Bites: A Real-world Study” actually used the Heat It smartphone device and found:
Analysis of data from over 12,000 collected treated insect bites, generated by approximately 1,750 participants (42% female, 39 ± 13 years) showed significant inhibition of itch and pain for all investigated insect species (mosquitoes, horseflies, bees and wasps). Mosquito bite-induced itch was reduced by 57% within the first minute and by 81% 5–10 min after treatment, and the overall reduction in itch and pain was more pronounced than in the control group.
While the study indicated there isn’t much scientific evidence on heat treatment relieving insect bite symptoms, “The results showed that the itch and pain caused by insect bites is strongly reduced by heat treatment, no matter how long ago the insect bite occurred.” If you’re an outdoorsman, frequent traveler, or susceptible to annoying insect bites, Heat It may be the perfect iPhone accessory for you or a great gift.
