[atombender]

I wonder if the benefits you get from applying hot water is from the heat itself. Heat activates heat shock proteins in the skin and suppresses/alters inflammation. [1] There are people who use infrared heat lamps to treat autoimmune skin disorders.

[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34781874/

[rolandr]

Back when I had a really nasty run-in with poison oak, my friend’s father who was a doctor suggested the hot water trick. AMAZING. His explanation was that it depleted histamines that caused the itching. Appears to bear out:

“ a poison ivy rash (like any other allergic reaction) is caused by the body releasing the chemical histamine to the affected area as part of your immune response. Heat will stimulate the production of histamine, and although this creates an unpleasant itching in the moment, the heat will eventually deplete the affected cells of their histamine, which can provide up to 8 hours of itch relief afterwards. This can be achieved by aiming warm water at the affected area, and slowly increasing the heat to the maximum tolerable temperature until itching stops.”

https://teclabsinc.com/why-you-shouldnt-use-hot-water-on-a-p... (article title referring to not using hot water when washing off oils after initial exposure)

[lupire]

I'd like a better source for that information than an ad for a commercial product.

[pests]

Half the articles and sources here fall under that category, FWIW.

[snarfy]

Interesting. I was a long time heavy cannabis user and developed cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome over the years. It causes severe gastrointestinal issues and vomiting. Relief comes from taking scalding hot baths or showers. I wonder if I simply became allergic to it.

[robin_reala]

You can get a little smartphone dongle for insect bites too: https://heatit.de/en