Help.

  • the_boxhead@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    9
    ·
    1 year ago

    I’ve got a little ‘bug-pen’ which heats up a small metal disk for about 6 seconds which you hold onto the bite. Works really well.

    • purringfox@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      11
      ·
      1 year ago

      The “at home” version of this would be heating a spoon under hot water and then holding it onto the bite.

      • naeap
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        12
        ·
        1 year ago

        ah, hot water… stupid me always tried with a lighter, looking like a junkie and worried about burning myself.
        not much to add, but that heat really works, as it breaks down the proteins that cause the infection/itching

      • ThesePaycheckAvenging@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        1 year ago

        That’s my go-to relief too. Take the spoon out of someone’s coffee for extra laziness (ask first though. Avoids weird discussions. Or so I’ve heard.)

        • LiveLaughLoveRevenge@kbin.social
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          This is the answer. /thread

          Doesn’t have to be coffee of course - just get a spoon from hot (not boiling) water. It should be at the temperature where you can juuust stand to have it on your skin. Press and repeat as needed.

          It will feel intense - even intensely itchy - for a couple of seconds, then….relief!

          • mke@lemm.ee
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            1 year ago

            Is the relief related to nociception, to inflammation, or to inactivation of the bug saliva?

            • naeap
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              edit-2
              1 year ago

              as far as I know the heat breaks up the proteins in the bug saliva and that’s stops the itching/infection - but I’m no doctor…

                • naeap
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  edit-2
                  1 year ago

                  that’s probably you have to make the heat treatment on quite short time after the bite. still, subjectively it still helps afterwards. It starts to itch more for a minute and calms down after
                  don’t really have a theory in why this works then…

                  how long does the child’s treatment helps? does the itch stay away after it warms up again?
                  I already tried to cool down stings with cold packs, but usually the itch comes back rather quickly.

                  will read your link now, as I got some surprise free time on hand - sorry for the possible premature answer/questions

                  edit: read the abstract (I think, I can’t access now without an account/paying?), and I think my questions still stands, as they only seem to say the applying cold stills the itch. maybe I’m missing something because of not having the full article - will try scihub

                  edit2: got lucky on scihub :⁠-⁠)
                  ok, seems there is really something to it. but my subjective reactions were different. maybe time of application plays a role here as well. would be cool to know the physiology behind it

    • nanoobot@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      I never go anywhere with mosquitos without one! Really good for training you out of scratching too, you just use the pen each time instead.