Itchy Patches

I've always wonder why running hot, almost burning water onto a bug bite makes it feel SOOOO good. I hate bug bites! Hate is not even a strong enough word to describe my disdain for bug bites! I've always been such a good meal for bugs too. It's my dad's tasty blood that runs through my veins, I just know it! A few trips back to China (where there are crazy, deadly mosquitoes lurking around every corner waiting to make you it's next victim) has proven that bugs LOVE to feast on my dad and I, while my mom and brother are ALWAYS spared. Makes sense, eat the tastier meal, why waste calories on less tasty victims.

Ever since I've moved here, I've been bug finding new bug bites (which I'm going to call "itchy patches" from now) all over my body!! Almost a new one every day!! Seriously, how is that possible?!?!?! And these bug bites swell up to the size of a quarter and itchy like you want to rip off your arm! The only thing that will make the itching stop, is running really hot water on it. So, back to my original topic, "why does it feel so good to run hot water onto your itchy patch?"

I actually googled this because I was so curious! I found a few postings that kind of make sense. One explained that when bugs bite you, they inject a venom in you that goes under your skin. This venom prevents your blood from clotting so the bug can maximize the blood it gets from one bite. The venom also becomes a foreign substance that is identified by your body and attracts a low grade immune/allergic response. This causes all the swelling and itchiness. When you run hot water on the itchy patch, it denatures the proteins that the venom is composed of, and decreases the immune/allergic response, therefore, the itchiness goes away. This makes sense....only if the itchiness never comes back. But after a while, the itchiness comes back......so onto the next theory.

Another theory I found states that the pain you feel from the hot water distracts you from the itchiness. As soon as the itchy patch recovers from the low grade burn you gave it, the distraction is gone and the itchiness comes back.

Which theory is true? I don't know, but all I know is, I HATE bug bites, but the only silver lining of getting a bug bite is that searing feeling of pain/satisfaction when I run boiling water onto the itchy patch to relieve me of its insanely overwhelming itchy sensation.

I also learned that you can heat up a metal spoon by dipping it in hot water and put the spoon on the itchy patch directly! That way it's more of a direct searing sensation, just in case the itchy patch is in a hard to reach spot! The spoon's been an amazing new tool :)

That's my plug on itchy patches...moving on.......


I've had a request to write about my HK friend that has recently moved back to my hometown to study again. I think he's working on a ph.D. this time around. Good for him! I'm super happy for his achievements! It's always nice to see him again too. Ok, that's it, that's all I know...haha, I know you were probably expecting for more juicy details to be spilled about him but I really don't have anymore than this. LoL.


There was this memo or email that was distributed at work about wearing PINK today to support some sorta cause, I don't know what it is because I didn't get the memo or email. Anyways, my point is, since I didn't get the memo, I didn't show up to work in pink. It wouldn't have been so bad except they decided to take pictures and of course I looked very awkward not wearing pink when everyone else in the picture was sporting pink. Can you say "left out"? That's ok, I don't care, it's going to be a picture that is going to plastered around clinic where I'm the odd man out....that's alright. I'll live.