2006-06-23 17:37:24 · 22 answers · asked by babyfish 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Mosquitos are attracted to many things that we, as mammals, produce on a regular basis. This includes lactic acid that is produced by the skin and carbon dioxide that we exhale with each breath. Both of these compounds are detectible by mosquitos at levels far lower than those that we can smell, and at a far greater distance. However, these are not the only compounds that mosquitos can detect - in fact, some species mosquitos do not even detect these two chemicals, but can 'smell' up to 340 different other chemicals present in our bodies.
In short, there's not much you can do to prevent mosquitos from liking your scent. Changing your diet may have effects, but it is difficult to say which foods would increase or decrease your susceptability. Scent-based repellants would be your only answer in practicality.
2006-06-23 17:48:33 · answer #1 · answered by michelsa0276 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's true that the chemical composition of some people's sweat and skin oils does attract more mosquitos. Some scientists believe that lactic acid is an attractor, some propose that Vitamin B in human sweat is a repellant, some say garlic in human sweat works to deter them too. Certain skin care products may also serve as attractors, whether or not they are scented, for example petroleum-based products are believed to be attractors.
So.... have you been skipping your vitamins and/or using Vaseline type products? That could be making a difference.
2006-06-23 17:51:01 · answer #2 · answered by Fogjazz49-Retired 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honnestly you should wear perfume while camping because they like your smell...thats what mosquitoes are attracted to the most if you wear perfume it masks your smell and should actually keep them away from you...I went on a hike with my cousin and my sister and I was the only one to come back with bites...not only was I the lightest skinned person in the group (which may have something to do with it) but I know I was the one who was sweating the most.
2006-06-23 17:44:59 · answer #3 · answered by KitKat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know for sure, but I know that I'm also a mosquito magnet. I've been told that it has something to do with the blood vessels being closer to the skin than other people. I've also heard that certain electrolytes have an impact on how mosquito's find their prey (so to speak). This evening, I was outside and mosquito's were practically swarming me, while my boyfriend didn't notice any...I do believe it has to do with your circulation and blood being near the surface of the skin. So, they "smell" us better than other people. I also bruise easily, so this explanation makes sense. Wear deet containing repellents and good luck. :-)
2006-06-23 17:45:47 · answer #4 · answered by shescrafty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mosquitos love you because you're food to them.
Try a sunscreen that also has repellent.
Also try taking a vitamin - B or multivitamin that has B complex in it. The B vitamins that make your urine extra yellow also change your scent and make you less appealing to the buggers. I had read this in a magazine once, and realized that was probably the reason why I wasn't getting bit as much anymore.
2006-06-23 17:44:21 · answer #5 · answered by HearKat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I remember when I used to visit my brother. Everybody in his family got multiple mosquito bites while I got none.
The difference between me and him, his wife and sons was that I took B Vitamins, watched my diet better (less sugar & fatty foods) and was in better shape.
He would laugh when one would hover around my arm. Then I'd point out to him that it wouldn't even land on my arm. Not sure why, saw on one site where they smell MTB (more than blood).
Could be sweat or what's in the sweat. Do know overweight people sweat easier.
2006-06-23 17:59:25 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The mosquitoes are also attracted to what u eat. So if u eat something sweet like a banana then they will be attracted to you even more.
2006-06-23 17:46:19 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have O+ blood? I read somewhere that misquitoes have a taste for that. I believe it because thats the blood type I have and they make a feast of me when ever I go out. I have friends that get close to me because they know I am more likely to get bit than they are.
You do produce oders that atract miquitoes even though you annot smell them yourself. CO2 also attracts them.
2006-06-23 17:44:25 · answer #8 · answered by JFra472449 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Among other things, mosquitoes are attracted to heat and carbon-dioxide (what you exhale). You could be unusually warm and/or have the "perfect" exhale concoction that mosquitoes just love?
2006-06-23 17:41:07 · answer #9 · answered by ilikegum 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not cologne that attracts mosquitoes, but rather the carbon dioxide that you exhale while breathing.
Some folks CO2 is just better than others I guess!
2006-06-23 17:42:00 · answer #10 · answered by J.D. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋