It's fun to spend time outdoors
now that the weather is nicer. But you know what's not so fun? Getting eaten
alive by mosquitos. Those evil little suckers can do a number to your arms,
legs, or any area that's exposed. Sometimes, it can get so bad that you'd
probably rather suffer through a heat wave wearing long-sleeved shirts and
jeans to avoid getting bitten, right? If you’ve ever wondered why you’re in
itchy hell while your friends are perfectly fine, you’re not alone. There are
lots of misconceptions (and downright adorable myths floating around out there)
for why some people are more susceptible to bug bites than others, but Elizabeth
Tanzi, M.D., a dermatologist in Washington, D.C., sets the record straight.
Research
suggests that the primary cause of your susceptibility is, yes, blood type,
says Tanzi. “We still don't completely understand why or what the issue is with the blood type,” she
says. “But it’s typically type O blood that attracts them.”
Your blood isn’t the only thing
making you suffer, though. “There are two things at play here,” says Tanzi.
“It's also the fact that some people's skin reacts more vividly than others.”
If you have more sensitive skin, a bug bite could trigger the release of
inflammatory cells to the area, similar to the reaction of hives. “When those
people get a bite, they can have a tremendous amount of swelling,” she says,
resulting in those attractive red welts. So while some people actually do get
bitten more than others, some people just notice bites more because their skin
reacts more.
If you’re one of those people who
get inflamed easily, you can prepare for battle with the little buzzers with
some antihistamines in addition to your bug spray. “Start taking them a couple
days before you are exposed to avoid the swelling,” says Tanzi. “The histamines
will stabilize in your system, and you won't have the same wild reaction.” So
if you have a cookout, picnic, or other outdoor event coming up, consider
popping some over-the-counter allergy meds like Claritin or Zyrtec for a few
days beforehand and then on the day of, as well.
The biological explanation may be
a bit less fun than some of those old wives' tales. There isn’t real
evidence that wearing certain colors of clothing or wearing floral perfumes
makes you more attractive to mosquitos. As for diet, “People say, ‘Oh, if
you’re eating a lot of sweets, you’ll get them,’” says Tanzi. “But scientists
don’t know if it’s diet-related.” A
study in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control
Association found
that mosquitos preferred landing on the arms of the study subjects after they
had imbibed 350 milliliters of beer. But it's worth pointing out that the study
was small (only 13 participants)—and Tanzi says she hasn't heard any evidence
that drinking beer ups your odds of getting bitten.
They do know, however, that some
scents and oils repel them, so stock up on those citronella candles. Also,
consider your environment: “Wet, steamy climates are the worst for
mosquitos and gnats, especially toward the end of the day,” says Tanzi. “Wooded
areas are bad, or grassy beaches where there could be sand fleas.”
And if you still get hit with one
of those little red bumps, there is advice to deal with it, whether you are
prone to them or not: Don’t scratch. “By scratching, you cause more trauma to
the area, which causes more swelling,” says Tanzi. Sit on your hands if you’ve
got to, but you’re just making it worse by picking or scratching.
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