What Causes Mosquito Bites To Itch?

If you’ve ever had a mosquito bite, you know how itchy they can be. Have you ever wondered what causes this itching sensation? If so, keep reading to get the answer to this age-old question.

Histamines Are The Culprit

When a mosquito bites someone, saliva is transferred into that person’s skin. There are proteins and an anticoagulant can be found in this saliva. The immune system reacts to this by producing histamines. These histamines are responsible for the itchiness associated with mosquito bites.

The Itch-Scratch Cycle

You may have heard of the itch-scratch cycle. The more a person scratches an itchy mosquito bite, the more it will continue to itch because of the inflammation it causes. Scratching an itch repeatedly also makes your skin more vulnerable to infections. 

Some People Don’t Experience Any Itching

There is always that one person who claims they do not experience itching after a mosquito bite. This is due to the fact that they have been bitten before and have built up a resistance to that particular protein. In fact, a person with this type of resistance may not even realize that they have a mosquito bite in the first place!

Do not spend the rest of the summer scratching itchy mosquito bites! If you spot a swarm of mosquitoes on your property, turn to the professionals at Knockout Pest Control to handle the situation. We can help keep your home pest-free!

To learn more, or to schedule an inspection, give us a call at 1-800-244-PEST or 1-800- 244-7378.