This gadget soothes insect bites with heat
11.7.2023
Translation: Eva Francis
The idea is well known, but not yet scientifically proven. The itch of a mosquito or insect bite can be relieved with heat. I wanted to find out if this really works – and tested a winning gadget.
I heard the buzzing before I fell asleep, but was too tired to react. Lucky strike for the mosquito who feasted on me all night long. One bite on my arm was particularly itchy the next morning.
In the past, I used to apply creams or gels to relieve the itching. This works well – but doesn’t last, so you need to apply it again and again.
Today, I use a gadget to sooth itchy and painful insect bites. The Beurer BR 10 is very easy to use. Turn it on, direct its tip onto the bite and press the button.
The tip of the gadget gets hot, you feel a slight burn – and five seconds later, the Beurer BR 10 beeps and the treatment is over. The itching too! The insect bite healer works! Even if the name is slightly misleading, as the gadget relieves the itching and – to some extent – the pain.
Technology offers more efficient and longer-lasting relief
This works for all insect bites. According to my experience, it’s most effective if you apply the heat treatment as soon as possible after being bitten. If it’s already quite itchy, it sometimes takes two or three attempts, spaced a few minutes apart, to relieve the pain.
In my case, the Beurer BR 10 had better and longer-lasting positive effects than gels and creams. Having said that, heat can be unpleasant, depending on how sensitive you are. It doesn’t actually burn your skin, but the increasing heat does trigger a strong reflex in me to remove the heat source.
Although it’s approved for children over the age of three, my experience shows that many kids would rather put up with the itching than experience a short moment of discomfort through heat.
Source: Lorenz Keller
Why this gadget deserves to be a test winner
The Beurer BR 10 won the test by an independent group «Alles Beste» (site in German), which tested and compared 14 insect bite healers. Galaxus offers half a dozen different models, too.
Is the Beurer BR 10 really the best one? It’s definitely the least expensive one at the moment – even if not by far. In terms of effectiveness, however, there are no differences. You could also heat up a spoon and press it on the bite. It would work just as well.
Source: Lorenz Keller
With a bite healer, however, the heat and the duration of the treatment are much easier to control. The Beurer BR 10 is really easy to use. Just push the button and off you go. On top of this, the gadget I tested is small and handy, making it perfect for travelling and holidays.
Equipped with a carabiner, the bite healer can be attached to a belt or backpack if you want to have it ready at all times. It’s operated with two AAA batteries that are included in the delivery and last for up to 300 applications.
Other bite healers offer a range of heat strengths, but those gadgets are also larger and more complicated to use. This only brings real advantages in everyday life if you’re particularly sensitive to heat. Then again, the lower the heat, the weaker the effect. The Beurer BR 10 is configured just right. Its minimalism has won me over. Sure, you could go with a model with more features – but it’s not necessary at all.
Header image: Lorenz Keller
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
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