If you are hiking In the woods, it’s not surprising to get bitten by mosquitoes on the trail, but sometimes it feels like they come out of nowhere.
Mosquito bites are a nuisance, RednessThe pain, itching, and swelling that come with mosquito bites are something no one wants to deal with, but while dealing with mosquito bites is unpleasant, it’s easy to make them less painful.
There is no “right” way to treat mosquito bites, Dr. Courtney CotterHere, D.O., an allergy and immunologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, explains some ways to ease the discomfort.
Why do I get so many mosquito bites?
Mosquitoes are attracted to sweat, but “sweat is a factor of our diet, hygiene, and [or] “Mosquitoes are attracted to our genes,” Cotter says. They’re also attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale. They can detect it “from quite a distance,” Cotter says, and “they’ll go after anyone that’s going to bite them, whether that’s a human or an animal.”
Mosquitoes are also attracted to dark colors: “If you’re wearing black or navy blue clothing, you may be more likely to attract mosquitoes than if you’re wearing white or cream.” Mosquitoes are also attracted to body heat because they have “thermoreceptors that allow them to detect the heat of humans and other animals from a distance.”
What’s more, there’s growing evidence that blood type is a factor in attracting mosquitoes. A 2019 study found that Blood Type O Compared to other blood types, this was the blood type most preferred by mosquitoes.
What to put on mosquito bites
So what’s the best way to reduce the redness, swelling, and excruciating itching that comes with a mosquito bite? “It really depends on what works for you,” says Cotter, but usually there’s nothing you need to do as mosquito bites will heal on their own.
“But if the itching is really bad, there are a few things you can do to relieve the itch,” she says.
“The first step is to take a medication that contains an active ingredient such as cetirizine or fexofenadine,” suggests Cotter. Both are non-sedating antihistamines that help relieve itching. Zyrtec (cetirizine) and Allegra (fexofenadine) are common over-the-counter brand names for these medications.
If your mosquito bite is large, red, and inflamed, apply a cold compress to it for 20 minutes, then rest for 20 minutes. In theory, this “reduces blood flow and reduces swelling,” she says. But when you apply a cold compress to a mosquito bite, what’s actually happening is “you’re suppressing your body’s itch sensation.”
“Some patients may have a very strong reaction and may respond to a topical steroid,” she adds. An over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream works well for most people, “but for patients who have a big local reaction, doctors may prescribe a stronger hydrocortisone or another stronger steroid,” she says.
How can I prevent mosquito bites?
“Using insect repellents that contain the following active ingredients can help: DEET “A light long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks, [or] “Closed-toe shoes” are one thing you can do to prevent mosquitoes from touching your skin, she says.
It’s also important to avoid times when mosquitoes are most prevalent (dawn and dusk), remove standing water nearby, and install screens on windows in your home.
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