Mosquitoes have been around
for 170 million years with more than 3,500 known species in the U.S. Mosquitoes
can smell dinner from a distance up to 30 meters. Bites are caused by female
mosquitoes searching for isoleucine, an amino acid that makes up protein found in blood. Female mosquitoes have feeding stylets to
pierce skin and siphon blood because they need
human blood to develop fertile eggs. Male mosquitoes lack this
blood-sucking ability because they don't produce eggs.
Everyone attracts mosquitoes, because all humans breathe and omit carbon
dioxide. Mosquitoes search and fly in the direction of higher carbon dioxide
concentration, leading then to a warm body. A
female mosquito usually finds a blood vessel in our skin in less than a minute,
fills up with up to four times her weight in blood, and injects saliva, an
anticoagulant, to keep our blood from clotting. The mosquito saliva causes a
histamine response, creating itching around the bite area from a mild allergic
reaction.
The differences
in our appeal to mosquitoes is affected by bodily odors and elements of our body chemistry. People are covered in hundreds
of species of bacteria which is responsible for personal odor. Concentrations of steroids, uric acid, and cholesterol on skin
surface can attract mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are attracted to movement, heavy
breathing, lactic acid from sweat, and heat.
The signs of a
mosquito bite are puffy, white bumps on the skin that appear right after the
bite or a hard, itchy, reddish-brown bump, appearing a day or so after the
bite. In people with immune system disorders, mosquito bites can also trigger a
large area of swelling and redness, low-grade fever, hives, and swollen lymph
nodes. If mosquito bites seem to trigger fever, headache, and body aches,
contact a doctor. Scratching the itch
aggravates the bite, making it itch more and can lead to infection. Most mosquito bites stop itching and
heal on their own without medical treatment.
To help with
itching you can topically apply an anti itch cream, calamine lotion, Quantum
Sting Soothe, Ssssting Stop homeopathic gel, lavender
essential oil, peppermint essential oil, tea tree essential oil, apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, and aloe vera gel to
bites. Taking an oral homeopathic antihistamine may ease your body's response.
Source: wikipedia, control-mosquitoes.com
Here are two natural remedies
to help reduce itching:
Baking soda paste
1 tbs baking soda
1
pint warm water
Directions:
Mix ingredients together and gently apply to the affected area using a cotton
swab. Allow to dry for a few minutes and wash off with warm water.
Hot bath
2 tbs apple cider vinegar
2 cups
ground oatmeal
Directions: Prepare hot water in bath tub and
add all ingredients. Soak for 15-20
minutes and rinse.
Mona Claypoole, Director of Marketing & Wellness Support
