The itchy welt is your body responding to proteins in mosquito saliva, and immune systems vary enormously. Some people barely react, some swell dramatically, and the same person's response can change over years of repeated exposure.
Two people can be bitten the same number of times on the patio. And one can walk away with a whole lot more angry welts than the other. If you’re the one with the welts, you may wonder: what gives? Even if the bites were perfectly identical, the bodies wouldn’t be.
When mosquitoes feed, they inject saliva containing anticoagulants and other proteins. This keeps blood flowing. Your immune system identifies these proteins as foreign, so there comes next a histamine response. That explains the swelling, redness, and itch. The bite itself is a pinprick you’d barely notice. Everything else that happens is your reaction to the bite.
Reactions vary for a number of factors. One is simple genetics. Another is age. Small children often react more strongly to mosquito bites because their immune systems are first meeting these proteins. People with allergic tendencies also tend to react more. A small number of people experience something called “skeeter syndrome” which is an outsized local reaction that produces large, hot, painful swelling. It looks alarming and can be mistaken for an infection.
Repeated exposure to the same mosquito species tends to desensitize people gradually, so long-term residents of a buggy area often react less than visitors do. That's why someone who moves to a new region can suddenly react badly for a season or two before settling down, and why a childhood full of welts can give way to adult indifference.
All that said, if you’re prone to welts, you can always use a cool compress, oral antihistamine, and hydrocortisone cream to cope with the symptoms. And, though easier said than done, try to avoid scratching as that can worsen the problem.
If someone in your household reacts badly to mosquito bites, Mosquito Squad of Los Angeles can help. Mosquito Squad treats the shaded foliage where mosquitoes rest during the day. This will help you protect your family with up to 90% reduction in mosquito activity on a recurring 21-day cycle.
