Insect Bite Healers Often Only Conditionally Recommended

The test magazine Konsument, together with Stiftung Warentest, examined ten different insect bite healers. The results were announced on Friday in a press release by the Chamber of Labor (AK) Upper Austria: Seven insect bite healers were rated as only conditionally recommendable, three did not perform convincingly.

Insect Bite Healers with Weaknesses in the Test

According to consumer advocates, devices that work with heat and automatically switch off after five seconds have the best chances of noticeable effect. The heat treatment proved particularly effective at around 51 degrees Celsius. Five of the tested devices met this requirement. However, one insect bite healer was much hotter than specified at 70 degrees and only switched off automatically after 30 seconds, posing a risk of burns. Electrical impulses can also relieve itching, but these models showed weaknesses in the test as they did not last as long as specified. A product that works with vacuum pressure performed less convincingly in the test, as there is a lack of scientific evidence for its mechanism of action.

According to consumer advocates, it depends on the application. The devices should be used as soon as possible after the bite, but not on sensitive areas such as mucous membranes. For use on children, one should check the product information from the providers, as there are differences in the age for use. People who have a pacemaker or suffer from epilepsy should not use piezoelectric pens. To prevent insect bites in the first place, it is advisable to use mosquito repellent in advance. If a mosquito has struck, cooling helps. Scratching can intensify the irritation and promote inflammation.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.