Where I come from, shorts are necessary to keep yourself cool during warm, humid summers. Unfortunately, they transform my exposed gams into an eat-all-you-can buffet for mosquitoes. The next thing I know, my calves have various red spots all over them and itching all the way home. I am left wondering how to get rid of Mosquito bites.
From then on, my mosquito bite treatment of choice was a tube of hydrocortisone cream in my medicine bag but do I really want to put chemicals on my body? So the quest was on to find a more natural remedy.
I have always considered mosquito bites a summer feature, like waterparks and lemonade. In the summer, I sported clothes stained with sunblock or hydrocortisone cream. Those yellow stains were a nightmare for anyone doing laundry— and my hopes of achieving a fashionable image.
My fear of staining my clothes and placing chemicals onto my body has carried on to adulthood. I would be sure not to wear my best shirts in the summer to avoid getting them stained from the bug-repelling lotions.
Table of Contents
Heat Pens for Mosquitos
Recently I stumbled into the world of mosquito bite heat pens when I heard about Bite Away. Bite Away claimed tobe a high-tech no-mess mosquito bite treatment you could carry with you. It was different from the various bug ointments hidden in my purse pockets.
When you spotted a pesky mosquito bite, all you needed to do was press a button and apply the tip to the spot. Heat would pulse to the area for a short period, and you would no longer feel the itch and irritation.
Intrigued, I knew that I had to make a Bite Away review to see how well it would hold up to its claims. I have heard of DIY mosquito bite treatments that involved heat, but they used a spoon or hot compress. If the Bite Away delivered, it would mean a more effective and less messy way to knock out an itch.
Features
Heated spoons have been a household hack of ours in treating itchy bites from critters in the summer. Bite Away streamlines the process by doing away with the spoon heating, allowing relief with a click of a button. Let us call it what it is: a mosquito bite heat pen.
The Bite Away is 6.5 inches long and weighs roughly 4 ounces. The device takes on the shape of the letter J, where the curved area houses the ceramic heating disk. This design allows the Bite Away to reach areas. Areas such as the back of the knee, nape of the neck, and small of the back.
Two buttons on the front panel provide the options for the heat pulses. These buttons allow users to choose between 3- and 5- second heat pulses. The varying times of the pulses provide flexibility for anyone’s tolerance to heat.
Battery Life
Two AA-batteries are stored at the blue end of the Bite Away. Bite Away claims that the batteries can last up to 300 heat cycles uses. This is reasonable, considering its straightforward use.
Battery life may differ per person, as the frequency of use affects longevity. I would have preferred if it was rechargeable for eco-friendliness and convenience. Yet, I understand that this would be a trade-off with battery life. As a compromise, I will be using rechargeable AA-batteries after the free batteries expire. They are compatible with the Bite Away’s battery dock!
How heat gets rid of Mosquito Bites
Bite Away makes use of heat to help break down the enzymes that form as a reaction to insect bites. Thus, the best time to use it is when the insect bite is fresh. Leaving it unattended may have the enzymes spread to a larger surface area. Once they do, it makes the heat treatment ineffective.
Two available heat settings treat different types of insect bites. The 3-second heat pulse is best for smaller bites or those with lower pain tolerances. Those needing more relief would find the 6-second pulse more helpful.
I find the Bite Away quite effective in zapping out any irritation I get from insect bites. It is easy to hold the apparatus on the desired spot without any help. I find the heat tolerable, although at times it can be too hot to handle.
Generally, Bite Away has relieved itches as well as my hydrocortisone cream. And it does so without stains or chemicals! Its the perfect tool for how to get rid of Mosquito Bites
Bite Away Specifications
Weight: 3.88 ounces
Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.87 x 1.13 inches
Warranty: 2 years
Comes with two AA-batteries
Manufactured in the USA
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Bring it everywhere and anywhere, thanks to its compact design. Inside bags, glove compartments, or bedside tables — you name it!
- FDA-approved design
- Long battery life allows a long time between battery changes
- Provides instant relief for bites from insects, including those from fire ants
- A convenient way to apply heat to the affected area
- Clean and easy way to relieve itch from insect bites. Treats midge, sandfly, wasp, mosquito, lice, flea, bee stings, and many more.
- Sterile and portable.
- Get up to 300 treatments on one set of batteries.
- Two different heat time settings 3 and 6 seconds.
Cons
- Works best when used immediately after a mosquito bite.
- Intense heat may be slightly uncomfortable, especially in tender areas of the body
- Goes through batteries fast on the 6-second timer.
Why do mosquito bites itch?
When a mosquito bites you, it releases an anticoagulant and proteins into your body. The proteins released by the mosquito trigger the body’s immune system, which releases histamine.
Histamine is involved in the inflammatory response and has a central role as a mediator of itching. Some adults have no reaction to mosquito bites whereas others break out in large welts.
Skeeter syndrome
Also known as (papular urticaria) is a localized allergic reaction to mosquito bites. Your body will have accelerated local inflammation of the mosquito bite. It is caused by allergenic polypeptides in mosquito saliva.
The reaction is often accompanied by relatively severe systemic symptoms such as fever and malaise, enlarged lymph nodes, liver, and/or spleen; liver dysfunction; hematuria; and proteinuria.
Please see a doctor if you have any of the above symptoms after receiving a mosquito sting.
How to get rid of Mosquito Bites – DIY home options.
There are many options for insect bite treatments. Some involve chemicals and some are natural. Heat pens and spider bite suctions tools are some of the best treatments for itchy bites, stings, and spider bites.
Make home remedies for mosquito bites with things that are probably already lying around your house.
- Oatmeal paste
- Crushed ice
- Baking soda paste
- Aloe vera Gel
- Honey
- Vinegar
- Crushed Thyme paste
- Cut onion paste
- Chamomile tea
- Crushed Garlic
Final Impressions
I find the Bite Away a useful addition to my portable first aid kit and bug out bag. It comes in handy when I’m bitten by mosquitoes in the summer and a heated spoon or surface isn’t available.
Is this item essential? I would say it depends. There are substitutes with other heated items at home like hot spoons or hot water packs. Yet, Bite Away is very good at what it does: providing a mess-free itch solution on the go. The fact that I don’t have to clean up after treatment is a plus. It has taken over the spot in my purse that was once reserved for hydrocortisone cream.
If you have the money to spare, Bite Away is a good investment. Keep it in your purse for any time you need accessible heat treatment. You won’t have to worry about stains on clothes or long effectivity with this tool.
As an electrician and a survivalist prepper, I want to share some of my ideas, thoughts, hardware, and survival techniques I have learned over the past 20 years. The world is changing fast and we need to be repaired for what may come if society breaks down.
