There are some tech products that are nice to have, but not life changing. Then there are others that are more of a must-have, devices that are useful and earn every cent of their price tag.
Heat It falls very firmly into the latter category. The original version of the product was a personal purchase, a €30 gamble I took in an attempt to deal with bug bites that has turned out to be a firm favourite. I had previously tried everything: anti-itch creams, antihistamine tablets, bands to repel mosquitoes, ammonia-heavy after-bite treatments, a device that zapped bug bites with a small electric charge. Some were messy, others reeked, and some just weren’t convenient enough to have on hand all the time.
But then came Heat It. The mini device uses hyperthermia to treat the pain and itching caused by bug bites and other stings, briefly heating the affected skin to 51 degrees. Heat It relies on your smartphone – Android or iPhone – for power, but the draw is minimal, and even if you are treating several bites, it won’t make much of a dent in your battery life. In fact, according to its maker, you can carry out 1,000 treatments with a full smartphone battery.
To get started, you plug it into your phone’s power port and the device starts up automatically, prompting you to open the app.
The app controls strength and duration of the treatment. You can choose between four seconds, seven seconds and nine seconds, and there is a child setting for those under 12 or with more sensitive skin. A separate sensitive setting can also be used for more delicate areas of the skin.
It isn’t the only device that uses hyperthermia, nor is it the cheapest. But because it attaches to your keychain, I always have it to hand – a big advantage. A year on, not only am I still using it, but other members of my family have also bought their own. On a recent family holiday, smartphones were being passed around the table so people could treat the collection of bug bites they had built up over the day. I don’t go anywhere without it.
[ 14 tips to prevent and treat insect bites and stingsOpens in new window ]
Heat It now has a new Pro version, which does largely the same thing but with a few new features – and a new design.
There is a change in design. The Pro version has a more secure enclosure, with a metal case and a rotating mechanism that tucks the device out of harm’s way. Not only does it protect it from accidental damage, it also stops the device from falling out of the case. It can’t be accidentally pulled out; you have to pull the enclosure and rotate it to extract the Heat It Pro from the case.
There isn’t a huge difference in size from the original, and it clips more securely on to your keyring. All in all, it is a good change.
The second new feature is the Bite Light. As the name suggests, the Heat It Pro has a small light that will help you use the device in darker environments. When a Healt It Pro is plugged into your phone, the app shows a small flashlight button on the screen alongside the treatment options. Press that and the light is activated.
It is handy if you are out for a walk, for example, in the evening and feel the sting of a bite. You can treat it there and then rather than waiting for better light to make sure you get the exact site under the heating element.
One downside to the light, however, is that you need to keep a closer eye on your smartphone during the treatment. When the Bite Light is turned off, the Heat It Pro uses the light to indicate that the device is ready, and when the treatment time has elapsed, flashing red while it is preparing, blue while the treatment is ongoing and green when it has finished. When the BiteLight is being used, you only have a white light – or whatever colour you choose – to illuminate your skin, so you will need to watch the smartphone screen for the treatment cues instead. It is a minor complaint, however.
Like the original, it is useful for bites and stings from horseflies, wasps, bees and mosquitoes – at least, that is what is says officially. I also used it to treat nettle stings after a gardening session, and an allergic reaction from a jellyfish sting that seemed to pop up a week later. Call it placebo, but it worked.
Good
One of the best things about Heat It is its simplicity. Plug in, open the app, treat the bite, put it away. The Pro keeps all that while also refining a few things. It is harder to lose off your keyring; it would require deliberate movements to separate it from the housing, unlike the first version.
And while people debate the long-term efficacy of hyperthermia as a treatment, in my experience it works to stop the itching and pain in the short term at least, long enough that you don’t scratch the bites and turn them into welts.
Bad
Hyperthermia is not the most comfortable of treatments, although it shouldn’t leave any lasting marks, even on sensitive skin.
The Pro is more expensive than the previous version, so if you are budget conscious and can do without the fancy extras, the original Heat It is still a good option.
Everything else
The chemical-free treatment is suitable for people from the age of three and up.
Like the original, it comes in USB C, for Android and iPhone 15 and newer, and a lightning version for the iPhone 6s to 14.
Verdict
Even with its more expensive price tag, the Heat It Pro is still a good deal in terms of cost per use. It is simple, effective and a convenient way to treat one of the summer’s most irritating side effects.
