This $45 Chemical-Free Device Is the Best Bug Bite Relief I’ve Ever Tried (I Can’t Believe It Worked!)

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a mosquito target. Long days at the beach, outdoor dinners on the deck, and evening strolls all result in bites that inevitably become inflamed and intensely itchy, leaving me scratching for up to a week.

“You’re extra sweet,” my parents used to tell me. But there’s nothing saccharine about the fact that I’ve skipped concerts or BBQs with friends because I decided the resulting discomfort from bites wasn’t worth it. And I’ve tried everything: over-the-counter creams, suction tubes, ice cubes, and, of course, the age-old fingernail X indentation.

Most do nothing. Some prescription creams support, although I have to layer a lot on, which isn’t ideal, as they tend to be steroid-heavy. So I was intrigued when I heard about heat it, a German-made device offering relief for insect bites and stings by plugging into smartphones to treat itching with heat.

And when I say intrigued, I mean skeptical. I had tried everything. Could a plug-in to my phone actually work? It was difficult to believe. However, a few mosquito and ant bites later and I’m a believer. Here’s why I’ll be using this first for any bites this summer and beyond.

Weighing just 0.1 ounces, heat it is a small, chemical-free device that looks a lot like the charging end of the cable you plug into your phone. It works with iPhones or Androids and requires an accompanying app to select your treatment with multiple durations and sensitivity modes. It’s intended to primarily treat bites from mosquitoes, bees, wasps, and houseflies.

According to its website, the device heats up to a temperature between 117 and 126 degrees Fahrenheit and is placed directly on the insect bite. It then takes four, seven, or nine seconds to treat, depending on the selection.  

Heat it works due to the principle of local hyperthermia, which is the employ of concentrated heat to relieve symptoms of itching and pain. The company backed up its findings with a medical study, although additional testing on the subject is limited. According to the research, the application of heat reduces the signals you feel that make you want to scratch. 

Because the product plugs into your phone, it will never need an additional battery, and as long as your phone is charged, it can last a lifetime. That makes the $45 price tag pretty reasonable — especially when I consider how many tubes of Benadryl I typically purchase in a year.

I tried the device when I got both mosquito bites and fire ant stings this summer. With the former, I used it right away — and while the welt from my bite remained, the sensation was gone and didn’t return after two to three applications. I was floored.

For a terrible ant bite that even my strongest steroid creams couldn’t stop the itching or pain, heat it was able to provide some relief. While it didn’t remove my desire to stop clawing my skin entirely, it did dramatically take the edge off and offered a reprieve I hadn’t found otherwise. I used the device multiple times daily to treat my irritation until it finally resolved.

For low durations set for sensitive skin, I felt a slight twinge of heat. But when I tried it for longer sessions, it hurt. Thankfully, the treatment ended just before it became entirely unbearable. Perhaps ironically, it feels a bit like a sting. It’s worth noting that I did find stronger relief by opting for those longer sessions. 

Ultimately, I’m never going to be able to totally prevent mosquito bites, or avoid itching altogether. However, I am glad to have a fresh tool in my arsenal that can support me stop scratching sooner without slathering on tons of heavy-duty creams.

The biggest drawback I’d note is how miniature the actual device is. Because it’s about the size of a stud earring, I worry about losing it. It did come with a lanyard to keep it on, though. I keep the device on my bedside daily and in my toiletry bag whenever I travel. I’m much more willing to join outdoor activities at dusk now — and that’s pretty sweet.