This new bug bite zapper plugs into your phone — how it works to ease itch in seconds
Powered by your smartphone, the pocket-sized gadget skips creams and chemicals in favor of heat to soothe insect bites.
The Post spoke with Dr. David Bank, a board-certified dermatologist, to find out how the tiny tool works and other smart ways to stop scratching yourself silly this summer.
Advertisement
4 Most bug bites cause symptoms like itching, redness and swelling that usually subsides within a few days.
years – stock.adobe.com
But first: why do bug bites itch?
When a bug bites, it injects saliva into your skin.
'The proteins in this saliva create an inflammatory reaction, during which a chemical called histamine is released,' Bank explained.
'This histamine is responsible for most of the redness, itching and swelling associated with insects' bites,' he added.
Advertisement
Enter: Heat It
Engineered by German researchers, 'Heat It' launched in Europe in 2020 and buzzed its way into the US market in 2023.
The device — no bigger than a bumblebee — plugs into your smartphone and uses its battery to generate concentrated heat.
4 Heat It is safe for use in children as young as three years old.
heat it
Advertisement
When applied to a bug bite, it delivers a quick blast of warmth that eases pain and itching from mosquito, horsefly, bee and wasp stings.
Users can customize the treatment with a companion app, adjusting the temperature and duration to suit their skin sensitivity.
Does heat really stand up to bug bites?
'Heat can cause a breakdown of the proteins in the insect's saliva,' Bank said. 'This reduction in proteins leads to less histamine being released, thus, less redness, itching and swelling.'
Advertisement
He also pointed out that heat can affect nerve endings in the skin, dialing down those itch signals being sent to your brain.
4 Americans are more likely to be bitten by bugs in the summer due to increased outdoor activity and favorable conditions for insects.
Getty Images
When researchers put Heat It to the test in a 2023 study involving more than 1,750 participants, they found that itchiness dropped by 63% within just two minutes of using the device — and after ten minutes, it plunged 78%.
Old tricks vs. new tech
Heat It may be the world's first smartphone-powered bug bite relief device, but humans have been using heat to ease their insect woes for ages.
For years, home remedies like warm compresses or metal spoons run under hot water have been go-to tricks for calming those pesky stings.
4 Heat It is chemical-free and is safe to use with sensitive skin.
heat it
'The problem with these is that they lack the precision of Heat it,' said Bank, speaking on behalf of the brand. 'If they are not warm enough, they are ineffective; if they are too hot, they may burn the skin.'
Advertisement
He said the magic range for treating bug bites is 122°F to 125°F. Heat It delivers a steady 124°F — with adjustable settings for kids or adults with sensitive skin.
Other ways to beat the bite
First things first: Resist the temptation to scratch. It will only make things worse.
For mild cases, over-the-counter creams like hydrocortisone or calamine lotion can help. Bank also recommended oral antihistamines like cetirizine, loratadine or fexofenadine to reduce itching and other symptoms from the inside out.
Advertisement
If the bite is painful, reach for medications like like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
And if things take a turn — like signs of infection or an allergic reaction — don't wait. Bank advised seeking immediate medical attention.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Wire
8 hours ago
- Business Wire
Cloudbreak Pharma Inc. Announces Positive Phase 2 Results for CBT-004 in Patients with Vascularized Pinguecula
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cloudbreak Pharma Inc. a clinical-stage ophthalmology company developing innovative therapies for ocular surface diseases, today announced positive topline results from its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating CBT-004 ophthalmic solution in patients with vascularized pinguecula and associated conjunctival hyperemia. "There is a significant unmet need for patients suffering from symptomatic pinguecula, as current therapies are largely off-label and may carry safety concerns with long-term use," said Dr. John Hovanesian, Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology and recognize Share Key Phase 2 Results Primary Endpoint Achieved: Both investigated concentrations of CBT-004 demonstrated statistically significant improvements in conjunctival hyperemia compared to vehicle at Day 28, as assessed by an independent reading center using digital imaging. Rapid Onset and Sustained Efficacy: Significant improvements were observed as early as Day 7 with the highest investigated concentration CBT-004 , with benefits persisting through the 28-day treatment period. Significant Symptom Relief: Both CBT-004 concentrations showed statistically significant improvements in five common patient-reported symptoms including burning/stinging, itching, foreign body sensation, eye discomfort, and pain compared to vehicle. Excellent Safety Profile: No treatment-related adverse events were observed. Most adverse events were mild to moderate. No clinically meaningful changes in visual acuity or intraocular pressure were reported. Addressing a Significant Unmet Medical Need Vascularized pinguecula affects millions of Americans and represents a substantial unmet medical need in ophthalmology. This common, benign conjunctival growth can become problematic when it develops abnormal blood vessels and inflammation, which can lead to persistent redness, irritation, pain, and foreign body sensation. Current management options are limited, with many patients relying on off-label corticosteroids or surgical excision, both of which carry significant limitations and potential complications. Study Design and Results The multicenter, randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled Phase 2 study enrolled 88 adult patients with vascularized pinguecula and associated conjunctival hyperemia. Participants were randomized to receive one of two concentrations of CBT-004, or vehicle. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline in conjunctival hyperemia at Day 28, as measured by an independent reading center using standardized digital imaging protocols. Expert Commentary "There is a significant unmet need for patients suffering from symptomatic pinguecula, as current therapies are largely off-label and may carry safety concerns with long-term use," said Dr. John Hovanesian, Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology and recognized key opinion leader in anterior segment disease. "The results from this trial are exciting, as they demonstrate that a targeted, non- steroidal therapy can meaningfully improve both the clinical signs and symptoms that impact patients' quality of life." "As a principal investigator in this study, I was impressed by the consistency and magnitude of improvement in both objective redness and patient-reported discomfort with CBT-004," commented Dr. Sherif El-Harazi, Medical Director at Global Research Management. "The safety profile was excellent, and I believe this therapy could represent a meaningful advance for our patients with vascularized pinguecula." About CBT-004 CBT-004 is a novel, preservative-free topical ophthalmic solution containing a potent and selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors. The formulation is specifically designed to reduce abnormal blood vessel growth and inflammation associated with vascularized pinguecula while minimizing potential ocular surface toxicity through its preservative- free composition. Next Steps and Regulatory Strategy Based on these positive Phase 2 results, Cloudbreak Pharma Inc. plans to advance CBT-004 into Phase 3 development and initiate discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish the regulatory pathway toward potential approval. The company anticipates providing updates on Phase 3 study design and timing in the coming months. Market Opportunity The vascularized pinguecula market represents a significant commercial opportunity with limited therapeutic options. The prevalence of pinguecula increases with age and UV exposure, affecting a substantial portion of the aging population. With no FDA-approved treatments specifically indicated for this condition, CBT-004 has the potential to become a category-defining therapy in this underserved market. About Cloudbreak Pharma Inc. Cloudbreak Pharma Inc. is a clinical-stage ophthalmology company dedicated to developing innovative therapies for ocular surface diseases with high unmet medical need. The company's pipeline focuses on novel treatments targeting inflammation, vascularization, and other pathological processes affecting the ocular surface. Cloudbreak is committed to improving outcomes for patients with challenging eye conditions through scientifically-driven therapeutic development. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential therapeutic benefits of CBT-004, the company's clinical development plans, regulatory strategy, and market opportunity. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the uncertainty of clinical trial results, regulatory approval processes, competitive developments, and other risks detailed in the company's filings. The company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law. Please note that the information contained in this press release may not be complete. For further details about Cloudbreak Pharma Inc., and our drug candidates, please refer to our company's website (at
Vox
13 hours ago
- Vox
Can't sleep? It's not totally your fault.
For much of history, humans probably got pretty lousy sleep. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, many people slept in the same bed alongside their family in dwellings lacking any temperature control beyond a fire or air ventilation. Those homes were littered with bed bugs, fleas, and lice that not only feasted on their hosts at night but also spread diseases, which — in the absence of modern medicine — kept the infirm awake and suffering. The noises of cities and rural life alike also made sleep difficult, thanks to the all-hours bustling of laborers, horse-drawn carriages, and livestock with whom farmers might've shared a home. 'Because in the winter they generated warmth,' says A. Roger Ekirch, a history professor at Virginia Tech and author of At Day's Close: Night in Times Past. Nighttime itself was a risk. Slumber left people vulnerable to crime or death from fire or other natural disasters. Some prayers throughout history sought God's protection from the litany of threats adherents encountered in the dark, says Ekirch. For those who are lucky enough to have access, modern marvels like central heating and air conditioning, comfortable beds, and even Tylenol have all but eliminated many of these barriers to sleep. 'We don't have to worry about the myriad perils to sound slumber and our physical well-being that people did 300, 400 years ago,' Ekirch says. 'We don't have to worry about the myriad perils to sound slumber and our physical well-being that people did 300, 400 years ago.' Still, sleep doesn't come easily to millions of Americans. Over 14 percent of adults had trouble falling asleep most days in 2020, according to the National Health Interview Survey. Nearly just as many people — 12 percent — have been diagnosed with chronic insomnia, according to an American Academy of Sleep Medicine survey. Among the 33 percent of US adults who get less than seven hours of sleep a night, native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and Black adults are the most likely to get shorter durations of shut-eye. Those with an annual household income of less than $15,000 are also likely to be sleep-deprived. Despite seemingly prime conditions for sleep, why do so many suffer from restless nights? The most comfortable bed in the darkest room might not be enough to overcome a mix of environmental, systemic, and behavioral forces preventing quality slumber. Modern lifestyles aren't ideal for sleep American sleep culture is marked by contradictions. Anyone who's endured a night of terrible sleep can attest to its importance in cognitive functioning, mood, hunger, and overall health. Yet, many people act in ways that sabotage their hope for a good night's sleep. We stay up later than we should to catch up on work or news or precious free time — what is sometimes called revenge bedtime procrastination. We consume content on our phones so upsetting or attention-grabbing as to prevent our falling asleep, although many of us know by now that screen use an hour before bed results in delayed bedtime and less sleep overall. We settle into bed and realize that late-afternoon coffee or nightcap too close to bedtime has come to collect its vengeance. Some people innately need more sleep than others, and these so-called long sleepers simply cannot find the time in their busy schedules to devote to 10 hours of slumber. Try as we might to have it all, optimizing our waking hours might come at the detriment of our sleep. 'We're trying to have our cake and eat it, too,' Ekirch says. 'The less time we accord to sleep, the more perfect we want it to be for when we do nod off.' Ironically, a population of people with no notable sleep issues has turned sleep into a competitive sport, leveraging mouth tape, expensive mattresses, and sleep trackers like the Oura Ring in pursuit of the perfect night's sleep. This fixation on enhancing sleep may actually do more to promote insomnia than peaceful slumber, experts say. Most disruptions to sleep cannot be blamed on personal choices, though. Parents and other caregivers are among the most sleep-deprived, often contending with their children's inconsistent sleep schedules. And the sleep patterns of shift workers — which account for 20 percent of the US workforce — are dictated by their employers. The ill effects of poor sleep can negatively impact mental health. The opposite is true, too: Mental distress has consequences for sleep. 'Stress, anxiety, weird work schedules,' says Jessi Pettigrew, a clinical social worker who focuses on sleep disorders, 'can lead to the development of sleep disorders like insomnia or circadian rhythm disorders, which basically means being misaligned with your biological sleep schedule because of social reasons.' Environmental and systemic barriers can disrupt sleep Outside of individual behavior, where we live has a role in sleep. Not having the ability to control the temperature in your bedroom because you lack effective heating or air conditioning can be a barrier to sleep, Pettigrew says. If you feel unsafe in your environment, you're less likely to get restful slumber, too, she adds. This tends to impact people with housing insecurity, refugees, and those who are incarcerated. Beyond the bedroom, noise and light pollution from bright street lights and traffic have been shown to interrupt sleep and contribute to insomnia — and those in low-income neighborhoods are more susceptible to these conditions. 'People who live in places with good natural light, green spaces, the ability to control the temperature and light and noise in their environment,' Pettigrew says, 'helps them to sleep better and better regulate their circadian rhythm during the day and sleep at night.' All of our waking experiences impact our ability to sleep, says Anita Shelgikar, a neurology professor at the University of Michigan Medical School and the president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine board of directors. And some of those waking experiences may be colored by racism and discrimination. Stress associated with racial discrimination has been linked to poor sleep. Among shift workers, people of color are more likely to work alternating day/night schedules, resulting in disrupted circadian rhythms. 'If that disrupts your sleep enough, that technically qualifies as shift-work sleep disorder,' says Jade Wu, a behavioral sleep medicine psychologist and author of Hello Sleep: The Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications. This disorder is marked by excessive sleepiness, insomnia, or both. The knock-on effects of altered sleep-wake schedules are profound, ranging from cardiovascular disease and obesity to mood and immune disorders. 'Sleep health disparities disproportionately affect the same populations who suffer from overall health disparities,' Shelgikar says. Those in rural or low-income areas who generally lack access to healthcare, let alone specialized sleep medicine, may continue to suffer from poor sleep, in addition to any number of physical and mental health conditions. Without individualized care, Shelgikar says, the disparities may only widen. How to overcome these sleep obstacles If you work odd hours or have a fussy baby, hearing the common advice of keeping your room cool and dark and only retreating to bed when you're sleepy can seem trite. Wu suggests identifying the environmental or circumstantial reason you aren't getting restful sleep and doing whatever you can to mitigate it. For those who live in spaces that aren't conducive to sleep — hot bedrooms or the constant wail of sirens all night — there are few things people can do beyond getting a fan or earplugs, Wu says. People with means and flexibility can seek out a doctor specializing in sleep medicine to diagnose potential disorders like insomnia or sleep apnea. If you work odd hours or have a fussy baby, hearing the common advice of keeping your room cool and dark and only retreating to bed when you're sleepy can seem trite. But if your conditions for sleep are pretty good and you still struggle to get shut-eye, the key, according to Wu, may be to not obsess over it as much. 'What you see in people with insomnia is that they're trying too hard,' she says. 'They're tracking their sleep too closely. They are perfectionistic about their sleep hygiene and doing things like going to bed too early or trying to take too many naps, trying to achieve a certain number of hours of sleep, or a certain score on their sleep tracker.' The human body was meant to sleep. And despite all the constructs and complications society throws our way, we still require sleep. Ironically, though, the more we fret over it, the more elusive it can become. As difficult as it seems, the best advice may be to surrender to the circadian rhythm. 'One thing that can help with sleep,' Pettigrew says, 'is just saying, I'm going to trust my body to take care of this.'
UPI
15 hours ago
- UPI
Think before you sip: summer drinking dangers
Lift a toast to summer fun but don't let risky drinking ruin the party. Too much alcohol can be deadly in the summer heat, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism warns. And 1 in 6 Americans is a binge drinker. "Think before you drink," the institute urges. "Avoiding beverages containing alcohol while piloting a boat, driving a car, exploring the wilderness, and swimming or surfing can also help keep you and your loved ones safe." The risks are sobering: 31% of U.S. drowning deaths involve blood alcohol levels of 0.10% or higher. A boater with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% -- legally drunk in all 50 states -- is 14 times more likely to be killed in a boating accident than someone who is sober. A third of traffic fatalities on U.S. highways are linked to drunken driving. Vacations bring added risks such as unfamiliar routes or towing a boat or camper, not to mention excited kids and pets in the car. "Drinking more can lead to higher blood alcohol concentrations ... especially if the amount of alcohol in is greater than what someone is accustomed to at home," the institute warns. Here's some more summer-specific advice: Goin' swimming? Keep in mind that more drownings occur in July than any other month of the year, the institute warns. Swimmers whose judgment is impaired by alcohol are more likely to take dangerous risks. Beware of going into deep water or staying in so long you get chilled and develop hypothermia. Even around a pool, horsing around can be dangerous. Tipsy divers may hit the board or dive where the water is too shallow. In a boat: An average-size woman (171 pounds) who has four drinks can reach a 0.08% BAC in two hours; an average guy (198 pounds) will reach that level at five - or even sooner, based on health status, medications and the like. Your odds of a fatal crash begin to rise with the first drink you slurp down. "Alcohol can impair a boater's judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time," according to the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. "It can also increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion." The risk doesn't stop with the driver. Drunken passengers can slip on deck, fall overboard or have accidents at the dock. Dehydration risk: Heat plus alcohol can spell trouble. Hot summer days cause fluid loss through perspiration and the need to urinate more often. "Together, they can quickly lead to dehydration or heat strokes." Think before you drink: Don't imbibe on an empty stomach. Food can slow alcohol absorption and reduce its peak level in the body by about one-third, the institute notes. Offer alcohol-free alternatives like water, sparkling sodas or juice to counteract dehydration and slow the rate of alcohol absorption into the body and help prevent a hangover. Plan ahead: Have a designated driver or be prepared to call a taxi or ride-hailing service so no one who has had any alcohol gets behind the wheel. If you're a parent, understand underage drinking laws and set a good example. More information Find out what's in your summer drink. Rethinking Drinking has calculators to estimate calories, blood alcohol content and more. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
