They love warm, humid environments. It is therefore not uncommon, in summer and early autumn, for our nights to be disturbed by these pernicious insects... Hunting for humans (but also for many other animals) is a vital activity for mosquito survival. Blood supply is essential for their reproduction. The sequence (blood meal, egg maturation and oviposition) is repeated several times during the mosquito's life, and is called the gonotrophic cycle. Only females hunt for blood for reproduction. They feed on proteins contained in the blood to complete the formation of their eggs. With males you therefore in principle don’t risk much… it’s up to you to spot them 🙂
BUT WHY DO BITES ITCH?
The first culprit is the saliva injected by the mosquito. During the “blood test”, in order to neutralize our platelets and ensure that the blood remains liquid, the mosquito injects saliva containing a powerful anticoagulant under the skin of its victim. He can then suck the blood without the risk of it coagulating in the open air and blocking his tube. If left undisturbed, a mosquito bite can last 2 to 3 minutes, giving it time to refuel. The injected saliva will cause an immediate reaction from our immune system and more precisely from the lower cells of the skin (mast cells). These small cells detect this foreign substance and, upon contact, secrete histamine . It is the histamine produced by our cells that is responsible for the itching sensation. A very unpleasant self-defense!
WHY DOES SCRATCHING RELIEVE THE ITCH?
Everything happens in our nervous system. The different sensory information transmitted to our brain sometimes uses similar pathways although they are routed by very distinct neurons. Interactions are then possible between the different types of sensations. Scratching causes a feeling of pain. This information transmitted to the brain temporarily takes over the sensation of itching. In other words, the “pain when scratching” message bypasses the “itching sensation” message and provides a pleasant feeling of relief. This relief is unfortunately momentary, because the inflammation continues and stimulates the nociceptive fibers. Additionally, scratching mosquito spots can cause a sore and further infection. Better to wait or apply the following methods...because with mosquito bites, you will have understood, you don't win by scratching.
SOME NATURAL TIPS TO RELIEVE MOSQUITO BITES WITHOUT SCRATCHING
Rubbing the mosquito bite with flat-leaf parsley for a few seconds, then letting it sit in the open air for 45 minutes, would relieve the itching sensation (provided you do not scratch during these 45 minutes…). Another method would consist of combining the effect of an onion cut in half with that of Marseille soap. Rub the onion vigorously on the bite (this method is supposed to make the itching sensation disappear quickly). Then, when the latter has calmed down, apply Marseille soap, and finally rinse thoroughly so that the pimple goes away forever (do not hesitate to keep us informed of the results obtained). Although never medically proven, crushed blackcurrant leaves and white vinegar also have soothing properties. If none of these wonderful tips have worked for you, and if your bite continues to send a sensory message of itching to your brain, you just have to be patient... This inconvenience should stop for good during the day.