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Someone suggested I run a spoon under hot water (as hot as I can bear) then hold it on the bite. Apparently the protein that they use to prevent clotting is what makes it itch, and this can be broken down by the extra heat.
It really seems to work for instant lasting relief. Seems much better than creams. You can also use any hot object - like the hot tap itself or a tea mug or something. When my legs were bitten to buggery I knelt in a boiling hot bath for a few minutes.
Yes, alternatively you can heat the spoon on a flame and burn your other leg. Thereby taking your mind completely off the annoying insect bite all together.
Tiny dab of ibuprofen gel, takes away the inflammation and itch long enough for it to sort itself out in my experience.
Nowhere near as "hardcore" but much more sensible.
Why more sensible? If you just use hot tap water it's not at all dangerous. I'm not talking about serious pain levels. And most places have hot water and metal items to hand, whereas ibuprofen gel has to be purchased and kept. You may not be in your own home when you start itching.
I'm waiting for a comparative test between the different spoon standards before I make up my mind.
Let us know when you've done one 🙂
Does this work best for mosquitoes in the Dessert?
Me and my spoon
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Someone suggested I run a spoon under hot water (as hot as I can bear) then hold it on the bite. Apparently the protein that they use to prevent clotting is what makes it itch, and this can be broken down by the extra heat.
I'd imagine theres a bit less science than that - you can dull your senses by overloading them - thats why you scratch an itch. Applying heat just overloads senses that are reporting the itch from the bite. You can use those little piezo zappers on bites for the same purpose.
I handed my GF one of those zappers after we got mosquito-mauled in the south of france..... without really explaining what they do. Expecting something akin to soothing balm the electric shock came as a bit of... a shock. Between that and the 'feather your brakes' advice than resulted in a massive amount of bruising she's pretty much ceased taking my advice on anything ever since.
Is the spoon part of a bike? They are the best spoons.
I'm going to try that as I'm a bit allergic to insect bites and they seem to love me, I get bitten so much.
Applying heat just overloads senses that are reporting the itch from the bite.
Maybe, except the last two times I tried it it stayed away for good, instead of itching for a few days. Doesn't seem like overloading the sense would be effective that long.
I will continue to evaluate it, maybe others could try it out and see if we can get more data?
Uank on the bite, protientastic.
The treatment for many 'sea stings' is hot water:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Stings-marine-creatures/Pages/Treatment.aspx