The mosquitoes have been driving me crazy this year. I read that there's some scientific data about who they bite more often. Maybe it's about my blood type or my scent?
The most effective thing is to change into light-colored clothes and avoid physical exertion before going outside. Mosquitoes are attracted to lactic acid in sweat, and if you just got back from a workout or were even just moving around actively, you're basically a beacon for them. Plus dark clothing attracts them even more. Try to spend at least an hour in a calm state before heading to the dacha or forest - you'll notice the difference.
Blood type really does play a role, but it's not the main thing. What actually works: mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide (we exhale it), elevated body temperature, and skin odor. If you naturally sweat more or have a faster metabolism, you'll be more attractive to them. You can't change the fact that you're in a group of people, but you can actually control your skin's smell and moisture.
A hack that a lot of people miss: an hour before you go out, use deodorant instead of antiperspirant, and then no perfume, lotions, or cologne. Sounds weird, but a neutral scent works better than trying to mask mosquitoes' attraction with fragrance. And don't forget about regular repellent - DEET at a concentration of 20% or higher really does reduce bites, not just repel them for a minute.
Every summer at the dacha it's the same story - I become the main target, and people around me barely suffer! It's infuriating! Then I looked into it, and it turns out mosquitoes are attracted by a whole bunch of factors, and blood type is just one of them, and not even the strongest one.
Scientists have found that mosquitoes look for people first and foremost by smell - they react to carbon dioxide, lactic acid in sweat, certain bacteria on the skin. Some people release these substances more actively, so they get bitten more often! Plus they prefer warmer skin, so active people who work up a sweat suffer more. Yeah, blood type O really does attract them more - but that doesn't mean you'll get bitten if there are people with type A or B around!
You can protect yourself based on all this! Repellents - that's your main salvation, they mask those very attractive smells. Light-colored loose clothing helps too (mosquitoes can see contrasting black, dark things from far away), open areas with good airflow. And don't shower too thoroughly before evening - okay, I'm joking, do shower, but rinse off the sweat from sports right away, fewer attractants for these pests!
Mosquitoes really do choose based on different factors, and blood type is one of them, though not the main one 😅 What attracts them most is a combination of things: carbon dioxide from your breath, lactic acid in sweat, your skin's scent, and body temperature - that's why active people get bitten worse. If you want to lower your "attractiveness," try taking a cool shower before heading outside and changing into clean clothes that are light-colored and cover as much as possible - it confuses mosquitoes way more effectively than it seems like it would.
Don't expect to get rid of mosquitoes just by changing your blood type 😄 that doesn't work at all, but you can actually influence the other factors - light-colored clothing, no sweat, no perfumes or creams with strong scents help way more.
The main thing that hardly anyone pays attention to is that mosquitoes can see you from far away by the carbon dioxide you exhale, so even if you smell perfect and don't sweat, they'll still find you. Only repellent or a physical barrier like a net actually helps, everything else is just extra 🦟
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