Ever gone hiking with friends for the day, only to come back covered in more mosquito bites than they have combined?
How is it that you wore a long-sleeve while they went out in tank tops, and you still have about a million more mosquito bites than they do? If you think you’re crazy for noticing this, then think again.
There are plenty of reasons why mosquitos really are just more attracted to you than others—and some of them actually have a lot to do with those old wives’ tales your mom used to tell you.
Women’s Health spoke with Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D., a dermatologist in Washington, D.C., to figure out what’s true and what’s not about those itchy bug bites.
If your parents ever told you that mosquitos were actually just attracted to your sweet blood, then they were right—well, sort of.
According to Tanzi, mosquitos absolutely love certain blood types, mainly type O. Doctors don’t know why this is true, but it is.
As far as having “sweet blood” goes, researchers also know that mosquitos do tend to swarm around people who have just eaten sweets.
However, scientists still have no idea whether or not this is actually diet-related. A study in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association found that mosquitos preferred landing on participants that had gulped down some beer beforehand.
One other explanation for your itchy bug bites might actually be that your skin is simply sensitive to the reaction.
While your friends may have mosquito bites, yours probably just seem larger, itchier, and more inflamed than theirs because you have sensitive skin.
If you know that you’re going to be hiking this weekend, it would be wise to start taking antihistamines a couple of days beforehand, so your body doesn’t have such a crazy reaction when you get bitten.
But, most of all, don’t forget to pack bug spray!
What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
