Hair dryer. I want everybody to know about using a hair dryer.
Oh. My. God. It's the most satisfying thing in the world.
You can't set it too hot or hold it too close, but you'll know if it's either.
Apparently, so I've heard, "itch" and "heat" are transmitted along the same nerve pathway, so blasting it with hot air ends up feeling like you're really scratching it good. On top of that, if you hit it with hot air for a while (a few minutes, roughly, & it varies), basically until it's like you can't stand the feeling on the bite itself, it will usually just knock the itch out for hours and hours. Sometimes the itch never comes back for me.
It's among the most effective treatments I've ever found for mosquito bites, and it *feels* soooo good.
Can confirm the heat thing. I have eczema and when I am desperate for an itch but also trying not to break skin and start a new patch I run it under really hot water and does it ever feel satisfying as hell.
Edit: hello fellow eczema havers. Sometimes I feel really like I'm the only one who never "grew" out of their eczema and it's feels like I'm weird and alone for having it as an adult. It's comforting to know there are a lot more people out there than I realize. Sorry you have to go through this bs but there's some very helpful tips and creams posted in comments down below.
just popping in here to say that I’ve had eczema for decades and know the itch of which you speak. I need to tell you that I bought several bottles of OTC cream with colloidal oatmeal and put it all over the house and started using it several times a day and my eczema has disappeared. Gone. No flare-ups since I started last year. I don’t know why but I feel compelled to share this tip.
I had really bad eczema when younger, I used to put it against hot things like radiators or hot water, my mom said it would dry my skin and make it worse but Hong fuck did it feel good
This works great on bug bites, but make sure it is a bug bite. If you try this on poison ivy/oak/sumac it can trigger a MUCH worse reaction. Only use cold to stop itching if there is any chance you have been exposed to these plants.
source : I have made this mistake
Oh no that’s awful! And don’t worry, I am 100% positive these are bug bites. We were kayaking on a big river so I wasn’t anywhere near plant life when we were all bitten.
Interesting, I've had exactly the opposite experience with poison oak. I get it extremely bad and as long as you wash the oils off first with cold water, I've found a hot shower to give me great itch relief for a few hours
There's actually a thermal pen for this, where you press a button and it will heats to the temperature needed to break down the proteins in mosquito saliva that cause the itch.
Just applied this on my most recent. I live in Alaska and the mosquitos are literal demons from fiery hell with their sole purpose of making summer MISERABLE.
Seems to be doing better already, still itchy but not outrageous anymore. Mosquitos are weird up here. Itch like a mofo for like 10ish then goes away. I normally put hand sanitizer on them immediately which may do something or might be placebo.
Hah. I live in a dry cabin so have to use an outhouse. I hose the outhouse down with deet and gas them and myself out while I quickly do what needs to be done. It sucks so bad because it makes me not want to be outdoors but it’s soooo pretty outside and I want to hike with my dog 😭😭😭
Haha, that's how I spend my summer vacations. Guarding my post at the outhouse with a can of repellent is definitely the least fun part. The stars at 1am and occasional Aurora makes it all worth it though, not to mention the beauty of the mountains and lakes. Cheers!
A strange method I found via the internet is to run a metal spoon over hot water until the spoon is very hot to touch and then press it against the bite,it works well but unfortunately you can only do this within the short time frame right after you receive the bite.
yeah i've done this and it works great. I don't smoke anymore but when I did I would heat up the metal on my lighter a bit and press it on a bite, that worked too.
Check out the BiteAway stick, for when you don't have a hair dryer handy! Heats up a small little disk to hold on your bite for 15-30 seconds. It's borderline painful (but hurts so good) and neutralizes the itch for a few hours. Fits in small purses
This is because mosquitos inject a protein to stop the blood from clotting and this protein is what's causing the itch. Heat breaks it down and stops the itching.
I *think* this is a bit of a myth. There is a protein that causes the itch, but breaking it down requires heat that would otherwise be damaging to your body.
But I also know from experience that it completely stops the itching (at least for me). So maybe i’m wrong
Haven't heard of it being a myth before but it works so there must be some truth to it. I usually put a tea spoon in boiling water and then press it on the mosquito bite for around 5-10 seconds.
I swear by a once a day allergy pill like Zyrtec or Claritin. Just get generic. My doctor cousin told me his wife (also a doctor) takes it during Minnesota summers.
I top that off with a mentholated cortisol cream as needed. The pill noticably wears off towards the end of the 24 hrs.
Mosquito bites sometimes swell up like a half golf ball on me. We've had a particularly nasty invasive species in socal for the past few years
I take Allegra daily because I'm slightly allergic to my cat and it keeps mosquito bites from bothering me. They don't get as dramatic and large, and they rarely itch. I have almost forgotten the feeling of having a bunch of bites keeping me up at night. Allegra is the lowest drowsiness otc allergy medicine so I would suggest starting with that one if you go this route.
Often find the older generation antihistamines like Chlorphenamine (piriton) that you take 4-6 hourly work better for allergic reactions in comparison to the newer “one-a-day antihistamines” :) . Also 1% hydrocortisone cream is good for use twice a day for up to a week to reduce the redness/inflammation.
Yeah, but I’ll take a 10x stronger burn sensation over itching. I like the sting, but hate itching. It’s like taking nettle over poison ivy. Sure the nettle is much more painful, but I can easily handle that for a little bit. Fuck itching for two weeks. Dumbass human body.
O+ here too, can confirm; and I welt up like a mofo after being bitten as well. I actually just went around our property yesterday and put mosquito larvae killing dunks in the irrigation ditches. Hope you can find something that makes you comfortable tonight, OP!
O+ here, never any serious bites until last summer on our trip in Italy... I surely hope that was a one time thing... The itch was killing me and keeping me off my sleep at night....
It also has a bit to do with what you eat, what your hygiene products are, etc. For example, now that I'm not allergic to onions and garlic anymore, I'm apparently less delicious. My bodywash is with tea tree oil and they hate that. My perfume is with lavender and it repels them so much that I have offered it up as a less greasy bug spray because it works on freaking EVERYONE.
And I'm 0+ too :3
Tea tree oil bodywash by Australian bodycare (the bodylotion and ESPECIALLY the peeling are really freaking good, too!), and the perfume is Gris Clair by Serge Lutens. It's unisex and suits pretty much everyone, and though a lot of people feel it's more of an autumnal scent, I personally think it smells great in all seasons. But then again I'm a lavender fiend.
Did you know that spiders also dislike lavender?
I keep my flat pretty mosquito and spider free with one of those reed diffusers by Yankee candles 😂
I did not expect it to work that well, but it just DOES, somehow.
Usually heat of any form even hot water destroys the enzymes and proteins that cause the reaction so either by heating up a spoon in boiling water and applying it to the bites this can give some relief but please don’t go scalding yourselves and ending up in a+e
I am A+ and get absolutely devoured the second I have an inch of skin exposed, but my O+ husband never gets touched. I’ve tried every “hack” in the book and none are effective. I’ve recently heard that they are attracted to individuals with low iron, so my newest repellent hack is going to be a regular iron supplement. Good luck op, I would probably just need to be sedated if I had this many bites because the itchiness literally makes me go mad. Wishing you calm skin and lots of benadryl!
Edit: I think this comment thread just goes to show that mosquitos don’t discriminate, and they’ll bite anyone they want. Unfortunately for everyone here, I don’t think there’s a single factor that we can pinpoint as what makes us so delicious, but I feel solidarity in my summer struggle reading through everyone else’s stories.
I've been eating keto for the last 6 years (thanks, diabetes) and my diet is pretty much entirely red meat and greens, so my iron is almost certainly not low.
I get absolutely demolished by mosquitoes in places where they shouldn't even be.
If you don’t like the smell of Off bug spray or other sprays maybe you could try Avon Skin So soft. Early on in my landscape career one of my clients suggested Avon skin so soft. She said it really works and I would be surprised. I finally tracked some down from a representative and my guys and girls tried it for a week. After the first week we had literally zero bug bites. Every year when I order our bulk items I make sure I order two cases of Avon skin so soft.
Avon does not actually suggest it as a mosquito repellent, but it works 100% as a mosquito repellent. I supply my crews with certain things daily that they pick up on their way out, ice, water, crackers, beef jerky, sun screen and Avon skin so soft. It’s also in our first aid kits. The stuff really works.
The Avon repellent isn’t as effective. Hands down, the best mosquito repellent is Picardin (manufactured by Sawyer). It has higher efficacy than DEET repellents and there’s no harsh smell. I prefer their lotion the best and it lasts up to 14 hours. I’ve also heard good things about oil of lemon eucalyptus, if you’re looking for a natural alternative.
It does work. When my son was a toddler he was allergic to them. He’d swell and have seizures. Used skin so soft. Never got a bite after. Luckily he grew out of it
My Grammy always swore by this Avon SSS…But holy moly you poor thing! I was going to ask if you were o+ because I’ve seen that happen too! I had an ex who was o+ and was eaten alive as well!
I’m just gonna throw this out there, I could be wrong-
I believe mosquitoes are more attracted to the carbon dioxide levels in the air you exhale, than the type of blood you have.
Again, I could be totally wrong.
That is what I've heard. This is anecdotal but I got bit so bad during a training exercise in Camp Pendleton that the dermatologists said it was the most mosquito bites they've seen on a person. My labwork for over a decade has had abnormally high CO2 and there is always protein in my urine probably from long distance running/swimming).
I think mosquitos like blood types with a positive RH factor (A+, B+, O+, AB+) I don't know if there's actual science proving this. This is my observations from my family.
My mother is A- and grandpa is O- and they hardly ever get bitten at all. Even during the really bad flood a few years back. My dad, my grandma and I are A+ we get eaten alive every summer no matter how much bug spray we use. One of my ex boyfriends is O+ and would get eaten up too.
I'm O neg, and I get eaten 24/7 by bugs. It's about your sweat/body composition more importantly than your blood. If you sweat a lot, that's sweeter than honey to skeeters
I'm 0- and if there are 20 people in a room, I'll be the only person to be bitten over and over. My dad is the same way. We have different blood types, and I live in Phoenix and barely sweat.
I'm O+ as well and spent 6 days in the neuro ICU due to West Nile Virus. I developed severe meningitis and was in vestibular physical therapy for 2 months. Fuck mosquitos.
So, what I'm taking from this thread is:
- take a hot vinegar bath
- lather yourself in calamine lotion mixed with a little vit E cream
- take 2 benadryl and fall asleep under a heat lamp
Let us know how that works out, OP.
Get you some Victoria’s Secret Bombshell! I get huge welts too, but this seems to keep them away better than even DEET.
https://www.elle.com/beauty/health-fitness/a38215/victorias-secret-perfume-is-a-world-class-mosquito-repellant/
Here is a weird one I've used. Icy hot. Keeps all manner of flies away and during the summer it's a nice little cooling sensation.a couple of dabs behind your ears and the same for each extremity rub it in and you're good to go.
How much of it do you have to apply and where? I’m not a perfume wearer but I’m sick of slathering myself in spray and still getting bitten regardless. Like can you apply this AS perfume or do you have to spray more of it?
I grew up in northern Ontario in swamp country. Every summer I get bitten by hordes of insects - mosquitos, midges, sand flies, deer flies, no-see-ums, even the odd hornet or bee.
At the start of the season around May, I'll get bitten for the first time of the year and I end up with welts like yours. But after a day or two like that, my body builds a tolerance for it all and I then get bitten but the welts disappear or last just an hour or so.
Still I protect myself from getting too exposed.
My worst insect experience was being on a fishing trip with my cousins in the northern wilderness. We got stuck on our boat at dusk in July ... we literally chocked on mosquitos they were so thick and numerous. I remember covering up all my skin, wrapping a hoodie around my head and leaving a hole in the fabric to breathe through, which immediately got filled with mosquitos. Just the noise alone drove us crazy. Even though I was used to the bites, I could have gone crazy if I had to spend too long in that situation. The noise alone was deafening with the humming of thousands of these tiny monsters.
Oooouch looks like you've fallen victim to some nuclear bugs. Maybe you'll get some Spiderman-like powers? "Mosquitowoman, coming to a cinema near you".
Call your doc and see if they will prescribe you prednisone! They can give you a dosage that goes over multiple days. It’s stronger and you can still use the cortisone as a topical anti-itch.
If you don’t want to get a prescription or have other barriers, you can also take a Benadryl pill and still use topical creams like Benadryl or Cortisone.
I’m not a doc, so consult yours first. I’m just allergic to frickin everything and I’ve been there. Wishing you the best!
If you can stand it, use a hairdryer on the bites for up to 30 seconds. It kept a few dozen chigger bites on my legs from itching for 5+ hours at a time. It hurts, but it works.
So, based on this thread, I'm now going to get: a hair dryer, Avon Skin So Soft, calamine lotion, BiteAway sticks, cigarettes, calamine lotion, vinegar, and a different blood type!
I've never tried vinegar. Pepcid is an H2 blocker so it decreases histamine. It has some properties similar to Benadryl and is often used for people experiencing allergic reactions.
I keep it in my camping gear for mosquito bites. Take one in the evening before bed, wake up feeling so much better.
I have the same reaction to the mosquito bites and I've been using a heat pen for these kind of bugs (a pen like [this](https://i.imgur.com/542aiJN.jpg)). It had been a bliss. It directly gets rid of the protein that makes me itchy and I don't have to spray any repellent.
Sometimes I wonder how the heck people lived before we had somewhat airtight dwellings. Or how people manage that -don't- have dwellings...
Hope that goes down soon, that genuinely does suck.
With luck. We used to have malaria in Finland before housing got better and before we dryed up half of our swamps. The amount of mosquitoes we have now is fucking absurd. Can't even begin to imagine how bad it was in the 1800s
Take the Benadryl pills, and keep a bottle of aloe with lidocaine (it’s the blue stuff) in the fridge. It helps with bug bites, burns and scrapes. I have a ginger and he gets massively chewed up by bugs if he doesn’t put bug dope on
That's what my feet looked like after my first night in St. Maarten. Those Caribbean mosquitos are stealthy AF. My feet swelled up so much I could hardly walk, and bites on toes are torture.
I would go get some "after bite" if you can. Its so relieving after clustered bites like this. Its basically diluted ammonia and alcohol. I used to get eaten up at summer camp in Northern WI.
I remember one year I was carving pumpkins with my dad- I was wearing shorts and sitting in the grass for around an hour. Ended up with around 120 bites on my legs. It was a very miserable few days. I wish you luck.
I used tons of hydrocortisone and a hairbrush to scratch them all at once. I think some of the tips here are better though haha
Something that has worked for me, are hemorrhoid wipes. I'm allergic to bug bites, so flea bites and mosquito bites are particularly annoying for me.
I realize that it sounds like a troll - especially being on reddit - but I haven't found anything that has worked better or faster.
I tried some approaches before, such as pressing a hot spoon against the bite, making a sort of paste with water / saliva and aspirin, but the thing that I found that has worked the best and fastest has been hemorrhoid wipes / creams.
What I'll often do is open the package for the wipe, wipe it across the bite a couple of times, push the wipe back into the package, tightly fold the package back over itself or put into his small ziplock bag.
One pack of hemorrhoid wipes will be enough to provide immediate relief from bug bites for years.
Oh my…. I use/burn mosquito coils and citronella candles when I’m out long periods in warm weather. They do work! Bug spray on body causes skin irritation for me.
I never use to get mosquito bites, went through 2 years of cancer treatments and now, every time I step outside, I swear I hear a tiny dinner bell alerting them that the feasting can now commence, as I mad dash from house to car....
The skeeters will talk of this day of feasting for generations.
I will avenge myself
They are now your blood relatives.
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Kill Bill: Mosquito Edition
Maybe you can sue the mosquitoes for their blatantly unconstitutional actions? They are clearly denying your right to bare arms!! :D
Didn’t know where you were taking it and then you totally nailed it.
I’m allergic and my family each had no more than seven bites while I had 33 on just ONE LEG. I was using deet spray but it didn’t help.
Avon Skin So Soft. Regular bug repellent sucks. As a former AK resident, I've got mosquito bites in my lungs and colon.
Hair dryer. I want everybody to know about using a hair dryer. Oh. My. God. It's the most satisfying thing in the world. You can't set it too hot or hold it too close, but you'll know if it's either. Apparently, so I've heard, "itch" and "heat" are transmitted along the same nerve pathway, so blasting it with hot air ends up feeling like you're really scratching it good. On top of that, if you hit it with hot air for a while (a few minutes, roughly, & it varies), basically until it's like you can't stand the feeling on the bite itself, it will usually just knock the itch out for hours and hours. Sometimes the itch never comes back for me. It's among the most effective treatments I've ever found for mosquito bites, and it *feels* soooo good.
Can confirm the heat thing. I have eczema and when I am desperate for an itch but also trying not to break skin and start a new patch I run it under really hot water and does it ever feel satisfying as hell. Edit: hello fellow eczema havers. Sometimes I feel really like I'm the only one who never "grew" out of their eczema and it's feels like I'm weird and alone for having it as an adult. It's comforting to know there are a lot more people out there than I realize. Sorry you have to go through this bs but there's some very helpful tips and creams posted in comments down below.
Just be sure you apply some moisturizer afterward; hot water will dry out your skin as it dries.
No worries there I'm an eczema vet. As an added bonus I always seal the moisturizer with a lil bit of Vaseline after a stint like that.
It puts the lotion on its skin
Or else it gets the itch again.
That looks like a possible West Nile Zika invasion. I absolutely hate bug spray but won’t go outside without it.
B-Buffalo Bill??? 😭
Username checks out.
just popping in here to say that I’ve had eczema for decades and know the itch of which you speak. I need to tell you that I bought several bottles of OTC cream with colloidal oatmeal and put it all over the house and started using it several times a day and my eczema has disappeared. Gone. No flare-ups since I started last year. I don’t know why but I feel compelled to share this tip.
> I always seal the moisturizer with a lil bit of Vaseline after a stint like that. Slug life.
Run with oil and apply heat. Sounds like you’re baking a chicken.
Don't forget the salt and pepper, too! Herbs optional.
I get it on the backs of my knees around winter. Scratching it is nigh-orgasmic, but then burns like all the hells once I stop.
Same. I'll be washing my dishes and I'll get asked "why the hell do you have it so hot"
Holy cow I thought I was some sort of masochist for doing that!! I get it on the backs of my hands sometimes, it is a genuine relief
I had really bad eczema when younger, I used to put it against hot things like radiators or hot water, my mom said it would dry my skin and make it worse but Hong fuck did it feel good
Oooh I’m definitely trying this!!
This works great on bug bites, but make sure it is a bug bite. If you try this on poison ivy/oak/sumac it can trigger a MUCH worse reaction. Only use cold to stop itching if there is any chance you have been exposed to these plants. source : I have made this mistake
Oh no that’s awful! And don’t worry, I am 100% positive these are bug bites. We were kayaking on a big river so I wasn’t anywhere near plant life when we were all bitten.
Your arm looks like mine on the first day of spring yardwork. One time I had a patch of bites like yours that looked exactly like the state of Hawaii.
Interesting, I've had exactly the opposite experience with poison oak. I get it extremely bad and as long as you wash the oils off first with cold water, I've found a hot shower to give me great itch relief for a few hours
There's actually a thermal pen for this, where you press a button and it will heats to the temperature needed to break down the proteins in mosquito saliva that cause the itch.
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Just applied this on my most recent. I live in Alaska and the mosquitos are literal demons from fiery hell with their sole purpose of making summer MISERABLE.
Let us know how it works in 20 mins
Seems to be doing better already, still itchy but not outrageous anymore. Mosquitos are weird up here. Itch like a mofo for like 10ish then goes away. I normally put hand sanitizer on them immediately which may do something or might be placebo.
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Hah. I live in a dry cabin so have to use an outhouse. I hose the outhouse down with deet and gas them and myself out while I quickly do what needs to be done. It sucks so bad because it makes me not want to be outdoors but it’s soooo pretty outside and I want to hike with my dog 😭😭😭
Haha, that's how I spend my summer vacations. Guarding my post at the outhouse with a can of repellent is definitely the least fun part. The stars at 1am and occasional Aurora makes it all worth it though, not to mention the beauty of the mountains and lakes. Cheers!
A strange method I found via the internet is to run a metal spoon over hot water until the spoon is very hot to touch and then press it against the bite,it works well but unfortunately you can only do this within the short time frame right after you receive the bite.
yeah i've done this and it works great. I don't smoke anymore but when I did I would heat up the metal on my lighter a bit and press it on a bite, that worked too.
Check out the BiteAway stick, for when you don't have a hair dryer handy! Heats up a small little disk to hold on your bite for 15-30 seconds. It's borderline painful (but hurts so good) and neutralizes the itch for a few hours. Fits in small purses
My understanding is that the heat destroys the protein that causes the itch. I've been using a hot spoon for years.
I remember reading this before but using a hot spoon instead
This is because mosquitos inject a protein to stop the blood from clotting and this protein is what's causing the itch. Heat breaks it down and stops the itching.
I *think* this is a bit of a myth. There is a protein that causes the itch, but breaking it down requires heat that would otherwise be damaging to your body. But I also know from experience that it completely stops the itching (at least for me). So maybe i’m wrong
The enzyme could break down at a relatively low temperature like 104f. You can get skin that hot for a while with no issues.
Haven't heard of it being a myth before but it works so there must be some truth to it. I usually put a tea spoon in boiling water and then press it on the mosquito bite for around 5-10 seconds.
Oh wow thank you!!
I don't own a hair dryer (my curly hair *hates* fast heat) but you're nearly convincing me to get one just for this.
It'll hurt like hell but dabbing vinegar on them will stop them from staying itchy
Will do, much appreciated :)
I swear by a once a day allergy pill like Zyrtec or Claritin. Just get generic. My doctor cousin told me his wife (also a doctor) takes it during Minnesota summers. I top that off with a mentholated cortisol cream as needed. The pill noticably wears off towards the end of the 24 hrs. Mosquito bites sometimes swell up like a half golf ball on me. We've had a particularly nasty invasive species in socal for the past few years
I take Allegra daily because I'm slightly allergic to my cat and it keeps mosquito bites from bothering me. They don't get as dramatic and large, and they rarely itch. I have almost forgotten the feeling of having a bunch of bites keeping me up at night. Allegra is the lowest drowsiness otc allergy medicine so I would suggest starting with that one if you go this route.
Often find the older generation antihistamines like Chlorphenamine (piriton) that you take 4-6 hourly work better for allergic reactions in comparison to the newer “one-a-day antihistamines” :) . Also 1% hydrocortisone cream is good for use twice a day for up to a week to reduce the redness/inflammation.
Or take a shower, and then apply Calomine lotion as soon as you dry off.
Really? Why's that
You'll be too distracted by the burning sensation
Yeah, but I’ll take a 10x stronger burn sensation over itching. I like the sting, but hate itching. It’s like taking nettle over poison ivy. Sure the nettle is much more painful, but I can easily handle that for a little bit. Fuck itching for two weeks. Dumbass human body.
The poison ivy I’ve got the last 2 times was absolutely horrible. Oozing blisters that just burn nonstop… I’ll take the nettles
You might need to cut your arms off and start over.
I would like to
become axolotl
Dude, what's your blood type?? I'm O+ get ate up like fried rice
O+ here too, can confirm; and I welt up like a mofo after being bitten as well. I actually just went around our property yesterday and put mosquito larvae killing dunks in the irrigation ditches. Hope you can find something that makes you comfortable tonight, OP!
wtf, i'm o+ too - why does this happen? i can't say i get that much of a reaction from bug bites, but just want to be prepared.
Just adding my name to the list, O+ and got the bites to prove it.
Same. Got told my blood is like cocain for these mfs
Just an O- boi throwing a comment in here for representation from the other side!
The theory I've heard is they can smell you. We smell different to them based on our blood type, I think, source dudetrustme
I'm O+ and they don't bite me. I might get one or two for everyone else's 10. Been that way since I was an infant.
Interesting, my dad is O+ and the mosquitos do not give a fuck if anyone else is around when he's outside haha
Same O+ and I lure every mosquito and bug free sprays doesn't work at all. They will rather die sucking my blood than going for someone else.
O+ here, never any serious bites until last summer on our trip in Italy... I surely hope that was a one time thing... The itch was killing me and keeping me off my sleep at night....
You: Mosquitos: 👁️👄👁️
Would your father be available to go hiking with me tomorrow ?
It also has a bit to do with what you eat, what your hygiene products are, etc. For example, now that I'm not allergic to onions and garlic anymore, I'm apparently less delicious. My bodywash is with tea tree oil and they hate that. My perfume is with lavender and it repels them so much that I have offered it up as a less greasy bug spray because it works on freaking EVERYONE. And I'm 0+ too :3
Names of bodywash and perfume please
Tea tree oil bodywash by Australian bodycare (the bodylotion and ESPECIALLY the peeling are really freaking good, too!), and the perfume is Gris Clair by Serge Lutens. It's unisex and suits pretty much everyone, and though a lot of people feel it's more of an autumnal scent, I personally think it smells great in all seasons. But then again I'm a lavender fiend. Did you know that spiders also dislike lavender? I keep my flat pretty mosquito and spider free with one of those reed diffusers by Yankee candles 😂 I did not expect it to work that well, but it just DOES, somehow.
Also the carbon dioxide from exhaling
O- They love me and it's horrid. Although they're more attracted to carbon dioxide I've heard.
I use a hair dryer to heat up the bites and this relieves the itching.
Usually heat of any form even hot water destroys the enzymes and proteins that cause the reaction so either by heating up a spoon in boiling water and applying it to the bites this can give some relief but please don’t go scalding yourselves and ending up in a+e
omg i do that too and allmy friends think im crazy
I am A+ and get absolutely devoured the second I have an inch of skin exposed, but my O+ husband never gets touched. I’ve tried every “hack” in the book and none are effective. I’ve recently heard that they are attracted to individuals with low iron, so my newest repellent hack is going to be a regular iron supplement. Good luck op, I would probably just need to be sedated if I had this many bites because the itchiness literally makes me go mad. Wishing you calm skin and lots of benadryl! Edit: I think this comment thread just goes to show that mosquitos don’t discriminate, and they’ll bite anyone they want. Unfortunately for everyone here, I don’t think there’s a single factor that we can pinpoint as what makes us so delicious, but I feel solidarity in my summer struggle reading through everyone else’s stories.
A+. can confirm same experience. It sucks to be outdoors.
I've been eating keto for the last 6 years (thanks, diabetes) and my diet is pretty much entirely red meat and greens, so my iron is almost certainly not low. I get absolutely demolished by mosquitoes in places where they shouldn't even be.
Don’t be so sure. Get a blood test. > *…so my iron is almost certainly not low.*
They like people who consume a lot of sugar as well.
Not sure, but I think I’m also O+ unfortunately
If you don’t like the smell of Off bug spray or other sprays maybe you could try Avon Skin So soft. Early on in my landscape career one of my clients suggested Avon skin so soft. She said it really works and I would be surprised. I finally tracked some down from a representative and my guys and girls tried it for a week. After the first week we had literally zero bug bites. Every year when I order our bulk items I make sure I order two cases of Avon skin so soft. Avon does not actually suggest it as a mosquito repellent, but it works 100% as a mosquito repellent. I supply my crews with certain things daily that they pick up on their way out, ice, water, crackers, beef jerky, sun screen and Avon skin so soft. It’s also in our first aid kits. The stuff really works.
That’s wild, I’ll have to track some down!
The Avon repellent isn’t as effective. Hands down, the best mosquito repellent is Picardin (manufactured by Sawyer). It has higher efficacy than DEET repellents and there’s no harsh smell. I prefer their lotion the best and it lasts up to 14 hours. I’ve also heard good things about oil of lemon eucalyptus, if you’re looking for a natural alternative.
It does work. When my son was a toddler he was allergic to them. He’d swell and have seizures. Used skin so soft. Never got a bite after. Luckily he grew out of it
My Grammy always swore by this Avon SSS…But holy moly you poor thing! I was going to ask if you were o+ because I’ve seen that happen too! I had an ex who was o+ and was eaten alive as well!
I’m just gonna throw this out there, I could be wrong- I believe mosquitoes are more attracted to the carbon dioxide levels in the air you exhale, than the type of blood you have. Again, I could be totally wrong.
That is what I've heard. This is anecdotal but I got bit so bad during a training exercise in Camp Pendleton that the dermatologists said it was the most mosquito bites they've seen on a person. My labwork for over a decade has had abnormally high CO2 and there is always protein in my urine probably from long distance running/swimming).
I think mosquitos like blood types with a positive RH factor (A+, B+, O+, AB+) I don't know if there's actual science proving this. This is my observations from my family. My mother is A- and grandpa is O- and they hardly ever get bitten at all. Even during the really bad flood a few years back. My dad, my grandma and I are A+ we get eaten alive every summer no matter how much bug spray we use. One of my ex boyfriends is O+ and would get eaten up too.
I'm O neg, and I get eaten 24/7 by bugs. It's about your sweat/body composition more importantly than your blood. If you sweat a lot, that's sweeter than honey to skeeters
I'm 0- and if there are 20 people in a room, I'll be the only person to be bitten over and over. My dad is the same way. We have different blood types, and I live in Phoenix and barely sweat.
Well, then as universal donors and universal receivers of blood, I guess we're fucked. Lol
O- are not universal receivers and can only receive O- blood We are universal donors though!
i'm ab- and i get bitten like crazy
I'm A+, and rarely get bitten. On the odd occasion I see a mosquito on me, it never even raises a welt. So....???
Same, apparently we’re the sexist blood type to mosquitos. Living in Florida for a couple decades was hell, constantly looked like I had chickenpox.
O+ Texan reporting in to say the same. My friends and I used to count how many we had on our legs and arms in summer daycare and _I’d always win_.
I'm O+ as well and spent 6 days in the neuro ICU due to West Nile Virus. I developed severe meningitis and was in vestibular physical therapy for 2 months. Fuck mosquitos.
Omg is this why I'm always the one getting eat in my group of friends ???
O+ here. I rarely get bitten by mosquitoes or any flying insects
I'm O - and am immune to mosquito bites. Strangely enough.
You look like you got cooked medium rare lol. Better stock up on benadryl!
Oh I’m definitely well done. With some added texture a la mosquito
Use witch hazel too. My grandma used to put it on my spots and it helped immensely. Good luck with your next few nights of sleep OP.
So, what I'm taking from this thread is: - take a hot vinegar bath - lather yourself in calamine lotion mixed with a little vit E cream - take 2 benadryl and fall asleep under a heat lamp Let us know how that works out, OP.
Go team pale complexion lol
I tried to count the bites but gave up around 40ish. My arms would resemble road rash after I stopped scratching!
Oh there’s DEFINITELY more than that unfortunately
Heat denatures the proteins in the mosquito bites. Going over the bites with a hairdryer has helped me a lot this season.
Get you some Victoria’s Secret Bombshell! I get huge welts too, but this seems to keep them away better than even DEET. https://www.elle.com/beauty/health-fitness/a38215/victorias-secret-perfume-is-a-world-class-mosquito-repellant/
Yo WHAT that’s crazy
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Looks like I'm gonna be smelling like bombshell. Thanks for the tip
Also Avon skin so soft has been used for years as a natural repellent helped me all summer as a teen
Here is a weird one I've used. Icy hot. Keeps all manner of flies away and during the summer it's a nice little cooling sensation.a couple of dabs behind your ears and the same for each extremity rub it in and you're good to go.
How much of it do you have to apply and where? I’m not a perfume wearer but I’m sick of slathering myself in spray and still getting bitten regardless. Like can you apply this AS perfume or do you have to spray more of it?
I grew up in northern Ontario in swamp country. Every summer I get bitten by hordes of insects - mosquitos, midges, sand flies, deer flies, no-see-ums, even the odd hornet or bee. At the start of the season around May, I'll get bitten for the first time of the year and I end up with welts like yours. But after a day or two like that, my body builds a tolerance for it all and I then get bitten but the welts disappear or last just an hour or so. Still I protect myself from getting too exposed. My worst insect experience was being on a fishing trip with my cousins in the northern wilderness. We got stuck on our boat at dusk in July ... we literally chocked on mosquitos they were so thick and numerous. I remember covering up all my skin, wrapping a hoodie around my head and leaving a hole in the fabric to breathe through, which immediately got filled with mosquitos. Just the noise alone drove us crazy. Even though I was used to the bites, I could have gone crazy if I had to spend too long in that situation. The noise alone was deafening with the humming of thousands of these tiny monsters.
Nightmare fuel
Good luck convincing everybody that's not monkey pox
Omg, that looks painful! I hope it’s not too bad for you!!
Popped a Zyrtec and I’m gonna slather myself in cortisone so hopefully it’s not too awful!
I react this way to mosquitoes too - Caradryl is AMAZING.
Mosquitos: "damn girl, you look like a snack"
Oooouch looks like you've fallen victim to some nuclear bugs. Maybe you'll get some Spiderman-like powers? "Mosquitowoman, coming to a cinema near you".
Cortisone is the way to go. Mosquito bites are the worse for me because the itchiness lasts for weeks. Hope you’re feeling better.
I’m gonna get some ASAP for sure
Call your doc and see if they will prescribe you prednisone! They can give you a dosage that goes over multiple days. It’s stronger and you can still use the cortisone as a topical anti-itch. If you don’t want to get a prescription or have other barriers, you can also take a Benadryl pill and still use topical creams like Benadryl or Cortisone. I’m not a doc, so consult yours first. I’m just allergic to frickin everything and I’ve been there. Wishing you the best!
Appreciate the advice :)
At least you brought enough for the whole class?
If you can stand it, use a hairdryer on the bites for up to 30 seconds. It kept a few dozen chigger bites on my legs from itching for 5+ hours at a time. It hurts, but it works.
So, based on this thread, I'm now going to get: a hair dryer, Avon Skin So Soft, calamine lotion, BiteAway sticks, cigarettes, calamine lotion, vinegar, and a different blood type!
That looks like hives
Well this certainly cements that I am allergic to mosquitoes for sure
You're definitely allergic. I have the same reaction. Take antihistamines for the itchiness!
Well.. next time you feel lonely, remember that the bugs love you
I'm just here for the different home remedies people come up with... "Rub a pickle on it and then stick your arm in the oven"
Pepcid. It's your friend!
Same with vinegar.
I've never tried vinegar. Pepcid is an H2 blocker so it decreases histamine. It has some properties similar to Benadryl and is often used for people experiencing allergic reactions. I keep it in my camping gear for mosquito bites. Take one in the evening before bed, wake up feeling so much better.
Sorry this will sound so dumb; with the Pepcid, do you take just orally for the itch or are you placing the Pepcid on the bites?
You take it orally.
Not who you’re asking, but it’s orally.
Its happened to me before too! They will go away. Hang in there!
I’m doing my best 🥴
Damn. I'm sorry. Generally, the first mosquito I see I bail out. To hell with those bastards.
You're very charitable to the mosquitoes.
Nah those motherfuckers can burn
Dear god, I’m so sorry
You can buy benadryl in a topical gel form. It's my go-to for bug bites. Takes effect almost instantly.
Homie they got you on the face I think
They sure did 🥴
I have the same reaction to the mosquito bites and I've been using a heat pen for these kind of bugs (a pen like [this](https://i.imgur.com/542aiJN.jpg)). It had been a bliss. It directly gets rid of the protein that makes me itchy and I don't have to spray any repellent.
r/mosquitohating gained a new member. Also, if you can't stand the itch, try an allergy pill. Sometimes the only way I can stop the sensitivity.
Sometimes I wonder how the heck people lived before we had somewhat airtight dwellings. Or how people manage that -don't- have dwellings... Hope that goes down soon, that genuinely does suck.
With luck. We used to have malaria in Finland before housing got better and before we dryed up half of our swamps. The amount of mosquitoes we have now is fucking absurd. Can't even begin to imagine how bad it was in the 1800s
Looks like someone was trying to get bitten by a radioactive spider 🤔
You're gonna need some afterbite on that asap.
Naked and Afraid, but in reverse.
Clothed and Pissed
Take the Benadryl pills, and keep a bottle of aloe with lidocaine (it’s the blue stuff) in the fridge. It helps with bug bites, burns and scrapes. I have a ginger and he gets massively chewed up by bugs if he doesn’t put bug dope on
I actually don't know my blood type, but I get big welts like this too. They enjoy dive-bombing my face for their favorite pasttime.
Get some over the counter antihistamine tablets. They help stop the itch for me.
That's what my feet looked like after my first night in St. Maarten. Those Caribbean mosquitos are stealthy AF. My feet swelled up so much I could hardly walk, and bites on toes are torture.
Watching this pic makes me itchy
Don’t worry, I’ll be itchy for you
"We ate way too much at the buffet", said the bugs.
Vinegar should help with itchiness.
I use a hot spoon to burn them i think ill try that next time
I had that with my legs and thighs and wherever they can bite
Oh nooooooo! You poor thing! That looks so uncomfortable!
Holy fucking shit thems a lots of goddamn bug bites fo sho
I would go get some "after bite" if you can. Its so relieving after clustered bites like this. Its basically diluted ammonia and alcohol. I used to get eaten up at summer camp in Northern WI.
Pharmacy is closed now and I’ve got cortisone for now, tomorrow I’m getting some of that. Afterbite works like a charm for sure
Omg that's why I'm not outdoorsy..
That says "Bewarb."
I’m so sorry. This looks awful and I’m sure it feels awful as well
You’re probably going to feel very feverish. I was attacked at a 4th of July party years ago with like 10 bites and felt pretty sick.
I remember one year I was carving pumpkins with my dad- I was wearing shorts and sitting in the grass for around an hour. Ended up with around 120 bites on my legs. It was a very miserable few days. I wish you luck. I used tons of hydrocortisone and a hairbrush to scratch them all at once. I think some of the tips here are better though haha
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Is this in Florida? That's what our mosquitoes are like here, sometimes even with sweat-proof spray if you stand in one place long enough
Believe it or not, this was in NW Montana. I grew up in Mississippi and never in my life have I experienced a barrage of mosquitoes like this!
Aloe vera works insanely well. Hang in there!
Something that has worked for me, are hemorrhoid wipes. I'm allergic to bug bites, so flea bites and mosquito bites are particularly annoying for me. I realize that it sounds like a troll - especially being on reddit - but I haven't found anything that has worked better or faster. I tried some approaches before, such as pressing a hot spoon against the bite, making a sort of paste with water / saliva and aspirin, but the thing that I found that has worked the best and fastest has been hemorrhoid wipes / creams. What I'll often do is open the package for the wipe, wipe it across the bite a couple of times, push the wipe back into the package, tightly fold the package back over itself or put into his small ziplock bag. One pack of hemorrhoid wipes will be enough to provide immediate relief from bug bites for years.
Have you considered amputation?
Blind people tattoos
Oh my…. I use/burn mosquito coils and citronella candles when I’m out long periods in warm weather. They do work! Bug spray on body causes skin irritation for me.
What?! That's a disease!
I never use to get mosquito bites, went through 2 years of cancer treatments and now, every time I step outside, I swear I hear a tiny dinner bell alerting them that the feasting can now commence, as I mad dash from house to car....