Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source, a smartphone-powered insect bite healer, my curiosity was piqued. It’s not something I had ever heard of before, so imagine how interested I was when I discovered it’s a tiny dongle that fits onto your keychain.
Heat It is the right size for attaching onto your keychain.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The app also has different modes for adults and children, a sensitive skin mode, and short, medium, and long application times.
Don’t worry if this sounds complicated; the app guides you through it all.
Applying heat to an insect bite has been proven to reduce swelling, especially if you do it right after you get bit. According to the manufacturer, the device is medically proven to work, and each application takes less than 0.1% of your smartphone battery.
I’ve tested this on a number of bites: horsefly bites, mosquito bites, dog flea bites, and other random insect bites I found, and yes, it works. Really well, actually — far better than any over-the-counter cream or ointment I’ve used (and I’ve used a lot). I used it at the maximum duration setting, and while the business end gets mildly hot, it wasn’t in any way painful.
Thermal image of the business end of the Heal It in action.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
ZDNET’s buying advice
At $40 (or $30 on sale at the time of writing), Heat It