Summer is back, and with it comes the familiar misery of mosquito bites. As people search desperately for relief, social media has been flooded with DIY tricks that claim to stop the itch.
One viral trend gaining momentum is the hot spoon method, but health experts caution that this so-called quick fix could do more harm than good. Before exploring the latest anti-itch trend, it helps to understand why mosquitoes bite in the first place.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “mosquito bites are caused by female mosquitoes feeding on your blood,” which they need to produce eggs. In other words, your blood helps them bring the next generation of these pests into the world.v
The clinic further explains, “as a biting mosquito fills itself with blood, it injects saliva into your skin. The saliva triggers an immune system reaction that results in the classic itching and bump.” Once you’ve been bitten, the resulting itch can be so intense that you’re willing to try anything for relief. The hot spoon method, Heating up a spoon and pressing it onto the bite for a few seconds.
“I can help you get rid of bug bites in less than a minute. All you need is a cup, a spoon, and a little bit of water,” one user explained in a TikTok viewed more than 2.6 million times. “Microwave the water for one minute, stick the spoon in the water for 30 seconds, take the spoon out, and press on the bug bite.” Supporters say the heat neutralizes the itch almost instantly, sometimes within a minute. Surprisingly, there is some science behind the idea. Short-lived relief, Experts agree that heat can temporarily ease the itch, with relief lasting a few minutes to a few hours. Dr. Calvin Williams, a board-certified dermatologist and medical director of Essential Dermatology Group in Texas, told Verywell that the hot spoon’s effects are similar to a parent kissing a child’s scraped knee: it doesn’t heal the problem, but it soothes.