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by CWuestefeld 318 days ago
These sort-of work, but not in the way they describe. It doesn't work to break down the mosquito "venom" through heat.

What's really happening is that the heat basically overloads (I don't recall the exact biology, but this is the gist) the sensory neurons that would be reporting about the itch. For a short time, until the neurons get unscrambled, the itching sensation is blocked. But it'll likely be back again if you're sensitive to bites.
1 comments
chopin 317 days ago
Do you have a source for this?
link
CWuestefeld 316 days ago
With some AI-assisted searching:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3257884/

e.g., "An explanation of the mechanism of action for the effectiveness of concentrated heat in this study can be found in the activation and suppression of receptors. A rapid temperature increase to a maximum of 51°C leads to an activation of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) via C- and Aδ-fibers."

link