heat it® Around the World

From a surf trip idea to insect bite itch relief on keyrings worldwide

Ever been bitten halfway through pitching a tent — or while waiting for the billy to boil? The itchy insect bites that follow are familiar almost everywhere. From summer evenings in Aotearoa to campsites across Europe, the sensation is the same.

What has changed is how people deal with insect bite itch relief.

heat it® combines German medical engineering with everyday practicality. Designed for life outdoors and small enough to stay on your keyring, it uses short, controlled heat therapy to help settle the sensation of itch after insect bites and stings. No creams, no chemicals, no batteries — just a simple physical method for itchy insect bites.

What heat it® is: A medical device for insect bite relief

heat it® is a compact medical device for treating insect bites and stings using local hyperthermia. It plugs directly into a smartphone and is guided by the free heat it® app, which controls temperature and treatment duration.

Because it draws power from the phone, this portable insect bite treatment device is always ready when needed — whether you are tramping, camping, travelling, or just spending time outdoors with family.

How heat therapy stops insect bite itch

When an insect bites, nerve signals from the skin create the sensation of itch. heat it® applies a brief, targeted heat impulse (around 47–52 °C at the contact surface) for a few seconds at the bite site.

This short, controlled application of heat can interfere with how the itch signal is processed, so the urge to scratch may settle for many people. The principle behind this method is known as local hyperthermia — a heat-based approach to insect bite itch relief.

In a large observational study conducted with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, more than 12,000 individual treatments were analysed. Reductions in perceived itch intensity were observed within minutes for many participants. Individual experiences vary.

[Learn more about the science: Why Heat Stops the Itch]

Designed in Germany. Used worldwide for insect bite relief.

Every heat it® device is designed and manufactured in Germany and meets certified medical-device standards (Class IIa). It complies with European and New Zealand regulatory requirements and is registered with Medsafe in New Zealand.

Because it is small, robust, and app-guided, heat it® fits easily into everyday life:

carried on a keyring
packed with tramping or camping gear
kept in the car or travel bag

Wherever insect bites happen in New Zealand or abroad, the device is close at hand.

From a student idea to a global insect bite treatment device

The idea for heat it® began in 2017 during a university innovation project. While on a surf trip, a group of engineering students experimented with heat as a way to manage itchy insect bites. The principle worked — but existing devices were bulky and impractical.

They decided to build something simpler.

That early prototype evolved into a certified medical device for insect bite itch relief, launched in 2020. Today, heat it® is available in more than 30 countries. In New Zealand, heat it® NZ Ltd ensures local availability, regulatory compliance, and support that reflects how people actually live here — outdoors, mobile, and often far from the bathroom cabinet.

Practical use and safety

Use only on intact skin
Follow the app's on-screen instructions
Not suitable for use on broken skin
Keep out of reach of small children

This is a medical device. Read the instructions before use. Not for use on broken skin.

Chemical-free insect bite relief for everyday life

heat it® shows how a precise, physical approach can make a practical difference in everyday situations. Compact, app-guided, and designed to be carried with you, this insect bite relief device fits naturally into outdoor life — wherever that happens to be.

heat it® is indicated for bites and stings from mosquitoes, horseflies, bees, and wasps.

[Discover heat it® Classic] | [Read: From Creams to Clean Heat]