why some people get more bug bites

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cookiegal
cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema
http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/05/29/6732427-why-some-people-are-mosquito-magnets
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  • BeckySharp
    BeckySharp Member Posts: 935
    edited June 2011
    Thanks Cookie--I am a major magnet for mosquitoes and I really get swollen like a bee sting bite when I do get bitten.  I can be at a picnic and someone next to me tells me they are a magnet but at the end of the evening only I am bitten and the other person is not-and I mean I am covered!  So I must be a major magnet. I think I will wear mosquito netting over me all summer.  It will go well with my wrapping don't you think?Embarassed  Hope your swelling has gone down.  Becky 
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  • Nordy
    Nordy Member Posts: 2,106
    edited June 2011

    I can't wait to read this article... as I am definitely a mosquito magnet. The funny thing is, that when I was having chemo, I very rarely got bit. And when I would, I would think - go ahead and bite me sucker - see how you feel with chemo toxin in YOU!"

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  • hymil
    hymil Member Posts: 826
    edited June 2011
    My mum reckoned she had "sweet blood" (though she was never diabetic or anything) always had a ginormous 10cm bump to show instead of a little 3mm pimple. She had a super-strong histamine release mechanism, totally beyond the necessary and counterproductive, and she would doze through most of the summer, tanked up on powerful antihistamines drugs. Nordy i love your response  Laughing
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  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited June 2011

    Nordy, I noticed the same thing, for the first 4 months after chemo not a single bite, now I'm back to being a mosquito magnet. 

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited June 2011

    Can't read the article on my work computer, but I will say, take the B vitamins and they'll leave you alone. It will change your body odor as well, so be careful how many/much you take!

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited June 2011

    Hah!! Just got the link to work without my firewall kicking in and saw that they say B12 is a wive's tale. It isn't!! Any of the B vits tend to change your body odor. Makes sense then, that the odor specific mosquitoes won't like the odor and will stay away! I proved that time and again. I would take a B6 or B12 and not get any bug bites. But you won't smell the same as you are used to.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    I believe perfume attracts mosquitoes and sweet blood.....great tip re vits B !

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011
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  • BeckySharp
    BeckySharp Member Posts: 935
    edited June 2011

    I've tried the Bs.  For me it just did not work--or maybe 25 bites instead of 50.  I am trying to not wear anything scented.  Love the cartoon.

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited June 2011

    Luan, the cartoons are hilarious.  Mosquitos like me a lot too!

    Becky, are you allergic to bees? If you swell that badly from mosquito bite then I would then to think your are allergic to them. When I was in High School I got stung by a ground hornet.  I swell up big time.  The rest of that summer I swell up even when bitten by a mosquito.  That's what make me wonder if you might be allergic.  Just a thought... 

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited June 2011

    Mosquitos don't like me.  I rarely get bitten.  My son, OTOH, reacts so badly that he has had cellulities - twice!

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  • BeckySharp
    BeckySharp Member Posts: 935
    edited June 2011

    msnjband--I don't know if I am allergic to bees as I have never been stung by one.  I guess I will have to watch it in case.  We have a lot of wasps around our house too.  Becky

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited June 2011

    I was once told that it also has something to do with blood type - no the major A/B/O but subtypes in the blood.

     Whichever one it is, I have it. I don't think it's estradiol ( at least in my case) since I've been susceptible since I was a little kid and continue now, post-meno and taking Femara.

    Leah

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  • KS1
    KS1 Member Posts: 632
    edited June 2011

    I am also a bug attractor.  I take a 3 prong attack.  First, I keep my arm covered by wearing SPF clothing.  Here's the URL for one company that sells SPF 50 clothing

     http://www.coolibar.com/index.html?s_kwcid=TC|8789|coolbar||S|e|6629679134

    Second, I use bug repellent.  DEET is hard on the skin and clothing, so I use products like Repel that have as the active ingredient oil of lemon eucalyptus.  It seems to work reasonably well, and according to the CDC, it is as effective as DEET. 

    http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/mosquitorepellent.htm

    Third, I try to stand near someone else who the mosquitos like even more than they like me.  Cool  KS1

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    Good strategy KS ! ;))

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited June 2011

    Sigh. I can never find anyone who the mosquitos like more than me.

    Leah

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited June 2011

    When I was married, my husband and I could be sleeping in the same room, in the same bed, and he would wake up with a half dozen mosquito bites while I had none. I always said it was because he lived on Pepsi and Doritos chips... he was so sweet and salty.



    I've heard that in recent years he's given both of those up. I should ask him if the mosquitoes have started leaving him alone. That might not proove anything, but it sure would add grist to my hypothesis.

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited June 2011

    Try to find out Nancy, that'd be neat!! We could discover all sorts of cures with the brain power and knowledge we have on this Forum.

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  • BeckySharp
    BeckySharp Member Posts: 935
    edited June 2011

    KS1 and Leah join me on a picnic sometime and I will be your magnet!  Thanks for the tips KS1.  I will try anything.

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  • kane744
    kane744 Member Posts: 461
    edited June 2011

    Do you nly have to worry about bites on your LE areas or everywhere on your body?

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  • BeckySharp
    BeckySharp Member Posts: 935
    edited June 2011

    Good question Kane.  Hope someone has an answer.  How is your hand?

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited June 2011

    I just worry about my LE arm...

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    I have to wonder what mosquitoe-carrying diseases they have not discovered yet Frown  Edited to add:  Love the added :  "partial list" ......

    http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/list_mosquitoborne.htm

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  • LtotheK
    LtotheK Member Posts: 2,095
    edited June 2011

    I'm now in South America, and B12 is a standard here.  It does seem to help.

    I was curious about coconut oil, since I use that as a moisturizer now. Lo and behold, it helps with bug bites!  The first days I was absolutely covered.

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited June 2011

    Maybe they slide off?

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  • LtotheK
    LtotheK Member Posts: 2,095
    edited June 2011

    Hahahahaha--that is hilarious

    I leave my coconut oil mark everywhere.  The other day, I left a full body imprint in a friend's car.

    Actually, a mixture of coconut oil and peppermint is supposed to be a good natural bug potion.  I have to admit, the standard brands with DEET do have me worried, and here, you gotta load up every day, all day.

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  • kane744
    kane744 Member Posts: 461
    edited June 2011

    Well, I'll be testing this out today.  The BBQ starts in prime mosquito time.  Never ever heard of coconut oil other than that coconut is bad for high cholestrol.  Don't your clothes get all stained with oil? 

    Gotta go change outfits.  I had my pasties on and they are not sticking well.  Don't want to drop one in the midst of the party,  Love those pasties!!!

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  • LtotheK
    LtotheK Member Posts: 2,095
    edited June 2011

    Many people believe now that coconut oil is the best oil, and only has good cholesterol properties. I am careful about the clothing, enough to coat, not enough to soak clothes.

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  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 5,056
    edited June 2011

    You may or may not know that Listerine helps keep mosquitoes away.    Dab a cotton ball soaked in it over your exposed arms, legs, behind your ears also....    And a fabric softener sheet tied to your belt loop or shoe laces also helps keep those chiggers, gnats away.    Listerine may not be the fragrance of the day, but if it works....   I will not use anything with Deet.   Is Avon Skin so soft still a bug repellant.   Years ago that was one of its claims.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    GramE, hey if it works...have heard that mouthwash could also be used as deodorant  :)

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