As the UK is currently melting in a heatwave, more mosquitoes will be around. But did you know there's a proven way to get their bites to stop itching in seconds?14:29, 25 May 2026As the UK finds itself in the middle of a heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 35C in certain regions, more insects, including mosquitoes, will be making an appearance.‌Mosquitoes in the UK usually emerge in April or May, with peak activity taking place during the hottest summer months of July and August. Depending on autumn temperatures, they can stay active through September and October before perishing or entering hibernation.‌While mosquito bites aren't typically dangerous or harmful in the UK, provided they don't transmit disease, their bites can be irritating and intensely itchy.‌Although the itching usually subsides within a few days, there are easy, scientifically proven methods to stop it in seconds. Harvard-trained doctor and author Dr Trisha Pasricha has turned to social media to share her expertise.The expert revealed a scientifically backed technique to stop mosquito bites from itching in moments. She promised: "If you get bitten by a mosquito, I'm gonna tell you something that's literally gonna change your life."‌"Do not scratch," Dr Trisha urged, which is advice many of us will have heard before.She added: "Instead, do what I'm doing: just rub it gently with two fingers." The medical professional demonstrated by rubbing her own mosquito bite with two fingers several times.Following her video tutorial, she said: "That's it. The itch is gone. I didn't scratch it. I didn't inflame it and make it a million times worse. I just rubbed it gently."‌How to get mosquito bites to stop itchingDr Trisha went on to discuss a recent study in which scientists at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine discovered that stroking the skin can stop the itch signal in its tracks.When you receive a mosquito bite, the nerve fibres in the skin become activated in an uneven, patchy manner. It's the contrast between some fibres being irritated while others remain unaffected that triggers the itch sensation.With this in mind, gently rubbing on and around the affected area generates a powerful counter-signal that suppresses the uncomfortable one, essentially preventing the itch from reaching the brain.‌Dr Trisha believes this technique can also be effective in relieving the itch associated with eczema, making it an incredibly useful method.She added: "If we rub just like this, we actually remove the contrast. And here's the coolest part, you don't actually have to rub the area where you got bitten. You just have to rub somewhere in the same dermatome."The comment section was quickly flooded with responses from grateful commenters. One wrote: "My entire life I've been scratching around bites, I could've just been rubbing them!"Article continues belowA second person shared: "I have done this unintentionally (trying to keep from scratching) and it works!" And a third added: "I just tried this with an eye itch... rubbed round the orbital but not the delicate part... it worked!!"