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In summer, there are plenty of biting or stinging creatures in nature. Mosquitoes, horseflies, wasps, bees: As soon as bikers take a sweaty break, the beasts are on the attack. A cosy end to the day in a beer garden or by the lake can turn into an ordeal.
It's best not to get bitten by the winged pests in the first place, of course. But if it does happen, don't panic. We have tried out various methods of protecting yourself from bites or treating them effectively.
Attention allergy: In case of severe reactions such as rash, severe swelling, dizziness or even palpitations, it is essential to consult a doctor!
For non-allergy sufferers, however, insect bites are generally not that bad. After all, mosquitoes rarely transmit serious diseases in Germany. It hurts and itches, but if you don't scratch, there is usually no sign of the bite after a short time. The well-known home remedies such as cooling or applying a sliced onion only help to a limited extent. Here are a few tips from our test subjects:
Protection: best to take precautions against insect bites
Light-coloured, long clothing protects the skin, but bikers rarely use it. You should therefore use a protective spray for prevention, such as Soventol Protect Intensive protective spray with plant-based active ingredient. Resists perspiration, works for several hours and smells very pleasant.
As a second means we have Ballistol Sting Free Tried it out. Feels good on the skin thanks to its oily consistency. Refreshing odour, UV filter. Also available as a lotion for children and as a wipe. Very effective.
Against itching: Better not to scratch
After an insect bite, the skin around the site of the bite swells and eventually itches. Scratching should be avoided as far as possible. Overlaying the irritation for a short time usually has negative consequences. Pathogens can penetrate the small wound and cause inflammation. Some people also swear by pressing a cross into the itchy bump with their fingernail, with similar risks. The reason for this is that things that have no business in injured skin are usually found under fingernails.
We have selected commercially available products that are supposed to relieve itching and burning. We have tried them out to see if they work.
Hot source: Bite Away
Hot tip: The "magic wand" affectionately named by one tester Sting healer from Bite Away. Heat is supposed to reduce the effect of the insect venom so that the injection site cannot itch and swell in the first place. The manufacturer does not know exactly what happens. Various mechanisms of action are possible, from clumping of the venom protein to overstimulation and activation of certain degradation processes. Research is ongoing.
The heat is unpleasant at first, but when you know that the sting won't get infected and the itching won't occur, you're happy to put up with it. Our absolute favourite and safer to use than experimenting with other less controllable heat sources.
Hot alternative: Orthomechanics High² mosquito repellent
We weren't able to try out the Hoch² mosquito repellent from Orthomechanik, as we didn't have a test sample. Nevertheless, we present it here as an alternative to the Bite Away. Like the Bite Away, the black stick from the Regeneration experts from Orthomechanik relieves itching after a mosquito bite with heat. The temperature can be conveniently set in four stages between 40-51 °C. In addition, a slight vibration is intended to reduce the pain.
At the same time, Orthomechanik wants to prevent the use of the heating rod. Orthomechanik is currently offering a 2-in-1 bundle called Mosquito Repellent High², which contains an electric mosquito repellent in addition to the heating rod. This is a small, rechargeable ultrasound device in keyring format that emits high-frequency sound waves.
According to the manufacturer, the ultrasonic sounds are supposed to repel mosquitoes within a radius of up to one metre because they supposedly mimic natural enemies such as bats. So far, similar devices have generally failed to prove their effectiveness. So we can't say whether this small ultrasonic transmitter actually works, we haven't tested it. The High² mosquito repellent package is currently available for 49.95 euros (instead of 79.90 euros) available from Orthomechanik.
Exciting: Mousticlick stun gun
Freedom through independence from batteries offers the Mousticlick: The approximately 6 cm short part distributes small "electric shocks", which apparently work in a similar way to heat and also counteract the symptoms of the sting - mainly the itching. Around 20 electric shocks are needed for 1-3 applications and the sting calms down. Not quite as comfortable as the electric heating rod from Bite Away, but small and energy self-sufficient. The piezo igniter is good for many thousands of clicks.
Help from the pharmacy: cooling gels & ointments
Cooling ointments are also effective against the symptoms of an insect bite, such as itching and burning or reddened skin. Various products are available in pharmacies, e.g. the Soventol gel or Pen and creams with hydrocortisone.
Allergy sufferers or people with very sensitive skin should - after consulting a dermatologist - use a prescription cortisone ointment.
As a general rule, speed helps a lot. The sooner you react after an insect bite, the more effective the countermeasures will be. This applies equally to the cooling compress and the technical gadgets shown above.
Sebastian Brust
Editor
