Stop the Itch!

Stop the Itch!

Mosquito Bites

Mosquitos are notorious for biting us and sucking our blood. Oddly enough, while its often thought that all mosquitos suck blood, it’s only the females that require blood because they use if specifically in the production of their eggs. Once they have found someone to bite, the mosquito pierces into their skin using their mouth appendage known as a proboscis. The proboscis of a mosquito is made up of six sharp needle-like components called stylets that allow them to break through skin. Upon inserting their proboscis, they immediately inject their saliva into the wound, creating a numbing sensation to mask their presence. The enzymes in their saliva also improve blood flow, acting as an anticoagulant so that the blood they’re sucking doesn’t clot. Once they’ve begun feeding, the process takes the mosquito roughly three minutes for their bellies to be full, at which time they leave behind an itchy bump.  

Why Do Mosquito Bites Itch?

In addition to acting as an anti-coagulant and anesthetic, the injected saliva contains proteins that trigger a fairly mild immune response. This response involves the immune system releasing a histamine, which helps white blood cells access the affected area and leads to the inflammation. The histamine also sends a signal to the nerves around the bite, and it is this very signal, along with the swelling, that causes the itchy sensation. While this reaction is practically universal for people, there are a few rare cases where people’s immune systems do not have this reaction. Some people are born with this immunity to mosquito saliva, while others have been found to build up a tolerance over significant time. For most people however, this immune reaction will last for a few days to a week depending on whether the bite area is left alone or not.

Stop Itching!

Almost everyone’s parents have told them not to scratch their mosquito bites… well, turns out they were on to something. Scratching your skin when it’s already irritated, increases the inflammation which, in turn, causes a corresponding increase in the itching sensation – ultimately leaving you in a spiral of maddening itchiness.

How to Reduce the Itch Sensation

A stated above, the more you itch it, the longer the bite will fester and feel itchy, so by avoiding the bite area, you reduce the likelihood that the itchiness with persist. Before you completely leave it alone however, it can be very beneficial to wash the area with soap and water to prevent any infections. Ice can also temporarily be applied to the area to reduce swelling, which in turn lessens the itching sensation, and a variety of over-the-counter ointments are available that can help numb the area for your comfort. In cases with particularly intense itchiness and swelling, antihistamines and cortisone creams can be used to relieve the symptoms, although, if symptoms continue to increase in severity, it is advised that you seek immediate  advice from a medical professional.

Citations

Burgess, L. and Seladi-Schulman, J. Ph.D. (2018) Why do mosquito bites itch? Causes and treatment, Medical News Today. MediLexicon International. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320979#overview (Accessed: January 19, 2021). How Mosquitos Got Their Taste for Human Blood – What it Means for the Future (2020) SciTech Daily. Cell Press. Available at: https://scitechdaily.com/how-mosquitoes-got-their-taste-for-human-blood-what-it-means-for-the-future/ (Accessed: September 2020). Mosquito Bites (2020) Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mosquito-bites/symptoms-causes/syc-20375310 (Accessed: January 19, 2021). Mosquito-Borne Diseases (2016) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/outdoor/mosquito-borne/default.html (Accessed: April 2020). Pointer, K. and Sullivan, D. Ph.D. (2019) Why Mosquito Bites Itch and How to Stop Them, Healthline. Healthline Media. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/why-mosquito-bites-itch#outlook (Accessed: January 2021). Saplakoglu, Y. (2018) Here’s Why Mosquito Bites Itch for Such a Long Time, LiveScience. Available at: https://www.livescience.com/62601-why-mosquito-bites-itch.html (Accessed: January 19, 2021). What Happens to Your Body When a Mosquito Bites You (2019) YouTube. Brightside. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91X8RcJBFwA (Accessed: July 2020).