... to mosquitoes.

Seriously, has anyone else ever experienced this? It's always been like this for me. It's not my diet, because it's always been like this, back when I was a dumb carnist kid and now as a vegan adult. I'm not even joking when I say that if someone opens the door only long enough to come inside (maybe 5-10 seconds) I will often immediately attract a mosquito which bites me several times. I'll often sit outside at work and have to go somewhere else because I'm being harassed by mosquitoes, when none of my coworkers have noticed anything. If I'm on a hike, I will literally come back with dozens of mosquito bites, any people with me might have a couple.

Bug sprays have never helped. Mosquitoes seem to avoid biting the parts I hit but inevitably I will miss a little spot near my armpit or something and mosquitoes will dodge my sleeve to go bite that.

I get bit by at least one mosquito almost every single day, even if I don't go outside.

I hate summer.

Please help

  • EmmaGoldman [she/her, comrade/them]M
    ·
    2 years ago

    Apparently, mosquitoes are most attracted to people with Type O blood and least attracted to people with Type B.

    They also seem more attracted to people who exhale more CO2 and those who have a higher body temperature.

    • buh [she/her]
      ·
      2 years ago

      those who have a higher body temperature

      they're attracted to hot people

    • Catherine_Steward [she/her]
      hexagon
      ·
      2 years ago

      This reminds me that I have no idea what my blood type is, which is probably bad. If only I could afford to see a doctor :agony-minion:

        • BoxedFenders [any, comrade/them]
          ·
          2 years ago

          If you're in the US, you can get the Red Cross app and make an appointment through there. It's pretty nifty cuz it'll keep track of your donations, blood type, COVID antibodies status, blood pressure/hemoglobin history, etc. A nice free way to get your vitals checked while saving those in need.

      • PapaEmeritusIII [any]
        ·
        2 years ago

        You can get test kits online and do it yourself. I found out mine that way while I was bored in lockdown.

    • silent_water [she/her]
      ·
      2 years ago

      o, this explains why they suddenly stopped being able to find me. my body temperature dropped 1.5 degrees on E.

  • silent_water [she/her]
    ·
    2 years ago

    fwiw, I went from extremely attractive to mosquitoes to completely invisible to them over a couple of years after starting hormones. I have absolutely no clue why but I'll take it.

  • ClimateChangeAnxiety [he/him, they/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    At my last apartment my roommate and I would sit out on the porch and smoke sometimes and I would cover myself in bug spray, even under my shirt and again on my shirt itself. My roommate wouldn’t use it at all. And yet I would get swarmed and she wouldn’t get a single bite. They’d bite my back through my shirt, and my legs and ass through my pants. It’s always been like this for me.

  • crime [she/her, any]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Same comrade, there's some genetic factors in addition to blood type that makes you a snacc. In addition to what others have said, antihistamines work really well for minimizing the effects of the bites

  • RNAi [he/him]
    ·
    edit-2
    2 years ago

    Try changing bodywash. I'm not joking.

    • Catherine_Steward [she/her]
      hexagon
      ·
      2 years ago

      I've definitely used a wide variety of products throughout my life. Anything in particular I should look for?

  • thirstywizard [he/him]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Yes.

    If you don't have a cat you could try a mosquito net, that will at least protect you when you sleep. Sleeping with a pet seems to help a little, at least my cat seems to snack on mosquitoes some. Each mosquito down is one less that can bite me.

    Could try a soap with anti-mosquito herbs in it like citronella or lavender, that seems to help a little, though I get mosquitoes still biting up my fingers and the palms of my hands.

  • medium_adult_son [he/him]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Antihistamines are good for bites, some of the topical treatments work alright for the bites too.

    I get bit a lot. I cover myself in the natural bug spray which mostly works for the other annoying bugs and kinda helps with mosquitoes, but I have lavender and citronella plants on my patio which helps.

    Another option is to keep some jackets and pants that have been treated with permethrin spray. It's the bug spray you spray on your clothes and let dry before wearing it, it works well. I'll throw on some of the clothes I treated with it to go into the woods or do some work outside late.

  • GrouchyGrouse [he/him]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Heat helps with mosquito bites. Run the hottest water you can stand over the bite. If you have those cursed bites on your hands do the dishes and soak in hot water. Iirc it fucks with the enzymes that cause inflammation and itching. Helps them break down or something like that.

    • AcidSmiley [she/her]
      ·
      2 years ago

      there's also spot heaters to treat bites. they work against wasp and bee stings as well, as they heat up the stung area enough to break down the venom.

      • GrouchyGrouse [he/him]
        ·
        2 years ago

        Ammonia is also good for bee stings. It breaks down the irritants. I'll try hot water next time I get stung because rubbing windex into my skin has probably shaved a bit of time off my life expectancy

  • CheGueBeara [he/him]
    ·
    edit-2
    2 years ago

    Yes but picardin actually works for me. Wish it wasn't so expensive

  • Absolute_LSD [none/use name]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Mosquitoes either don't like me or they don't leave a trace when they do. The same can be said for bed bugs as I remember my family once stayed at a cheap hotel and they all got bit but me. They just said they had sweet blood or something