I Tried Three Gadgets That Supposedly Provide Relief From Insect Bites — Did Any of Them Work?

I first saw Bug Bite Thing on an episode of Shark Tank and immediately fell in love with the idea: a simple plastic plunger that would suck up bug venom, helping to stop your body’s reaction to it (i.e. the itching). No batteries, buttons, chemicals; just place one end over the bite and pull the plunger for 10-20 seconds.

Good news: It works! But the longer you wait, the less effective it becomes. When I used it on a bite that was only a few minutes old, the itch almost went away. On a bite that was an hour or two earlier, the itch seemed to come back pretty quickly.

The device is simple to use and only becomes uncomfortable if you pull the plunger too hard and create too much suction – in which case it can leave a fairly large indentation (dare I say “hickey”?). You’ll need some practice to find that “right” pressure.

At $10, Bug Bite Thing is inexpensive, easy to throw in your purse or backpack, and easy to have on hand when the mosquitoes attack. Catching a bite early can help keep the itching to a minimum.

It’s hard to beat the simplicity of the Beurer BR90. Simply flip the power switch, place the small round heating plate over the bite, then press the large button on top—once for a three-second treatment, twice for a six-second treatment.

Compare that to the Heat It, which requires a phone and an app — and costs $10 more. The Beurer is something you keep in your pocket or purse and have at your fingertips, which I like.

It’s too big and heavy to wear on a keychain, though, and there’s no hole for that, even if you want to make room. That volume holds the included pair of AAA batteries, which should be enough for about 300 treatments (assuming you don’t activate the optional LED light that helps you find bites in darker areas).

I would definitely prefer a rechargeable version of the product, which could probably be smaller too. (The Heat It, which runs on a phone battery, is a fraction of the size.) Of course, you can always use your own batteries.

I would also welcome a kid-friendly mode that provides a little less heat, something that the Heat It offers. Indeed, the latter product is a little more versatile and certainly more compact. But I like the Beurer’s speed and convenience, as well as its sub-$30 price tag.

Despite using the same basic heated plate technology as the Beurer BR90, the Heat It is tiny by comparison – about the size of a mini USB stick and incredibly key-fob friendly. Thankfully, it’s no less effective than the Beurer; it really comes down to whether you want to reach for your phone every time you treat a bug bite.

Make sure you get the right model: The Heat It comes in USB-C for Android phones, USB-C for iPhone 15 and newer, and Lightning for iPhone 14 and older. It’s a shame there’s no universal model with multiple plugs, making it easier to lend to a friend or family member.

I tested the Lightning model with an iPhone 13. Simply plug the small dongle into your phone’s charging port and launch the Heat It app. Choose a few options (duration, child/adult, etc.), then press the button. It heats up for about nine seconds, then you apply it to the insect bite and wait four, seven, or nine seconds for the treatment (depending on the duration you choose).

And that’s it. I found Heat It very intuitive and easy to use, thanks in large part to the app: it explains in simple detail how this “hyperthermia” treatment works and how to use it on children, adults and people with sensitive skin.

The only downside is that because you need a phone, it can be a bit tricky to get the heating plate at the right angle — especially in an area like the back of the leg. The Beurer is easier to use and also faster, with less preheating delay.

Here’s the price: Heat. It’s $10 more expensive than Beurer, even though it doesn’t have its own battery. (On the other hand, you don’t have to worry about charging it, because it will work as long as your phone is charged.) The $40 price tag seems excessive to me, although it works and I’m glad I have it on my keys.