The creators of a new handheld gadget hope it can relieve one of the most annoying problems this summer, mosquito bites. Its Australian importers saw the product being used overseas and were intrigued that it used heat rather than chemical creams or sprays to reduce itching.
Welcare’s Insect Bite Healer is reasonably easy to use. There’s a power button and two modes: 3 seconds of heat at 47 degrees and 6 seconds at 50 degrees.
“The idea that heat does help with insect bites is something that’s been widely known for a long period. But in terms of devices like this, they’re quite new to the market,” Welcare’s Charlene Schembri told Yahoo News.
How does heat help mozzie bites?
The theory behind heat-based insect treatment is that it destroys proteins in the insect bite, thus reducing the body’s histamine response – the part that causes swelling and itchiness. A second effect is that the warm sensation can distract from the itch.
I thought it was a good time to take a look at the device because people hitting the bush over the holidays through caravanning, camping, or hiking will no doubt be contending with mozzie populations on their trips. Even those staying home and tending to their gardens at the moment, particularly when watering as the heat cools in the evening, will be no stranger to mosquito bites.
Mosquitoes are a pain for anyone who likes caravanning, camping, or hiking. Source: Getty
While I enjoyed the intense 50-degree mode, the heat was too much for my partner and she had to pull away. The product suggests its most effective on new bites, but I tried it on a week-old mozzie bite that was refusing to go away and it definitely soothed the itch.
Because the device doesn’t contain any chemicals, the company’s advice is to wash the bite first to remove any bacteria transferred to the skin. And of course, anyone who notices strange complications after a bite is always advised to seek medical attention.
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Where is it made?
When we spoke to Welcare in November, soon after the product’s launch, it was available in some retail pharmacies and online. Schembri said they’ve seen similar products on the market, but nothing being sold through pharmacies.
Marketing, design and customer service are all located in Port Melbourne where the business is headquartered.
Welcare subscribes to Sedex, a UK-based company that specialises in making supply chains sustainable and free of slave labour. The device is made in China to Australian specifications in the city of Shenzhen.
Welcare is a family-run, Australian-owned company. Its spokesperson told Yahoo News they saw the product in Asia and decided to bring it to the Australian market.
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