What's inside a Mosquito bite, and why does it swell up?

Why does a mosquito bite swell with the mere act of scratching it? I understand why it would ITCH more, but what makes it swell? Scratching regular skin doesn't make it swell...........

  • Answer:

    When it bit you, the mosquito injected an anticoagulant to stop your blood clotting while it was sucked up. This anticoagulant is probably in a pool just under the skin, and is what actually causes the itching and swelling. If you apply pressure to the skin above it, as you do when you scratch, you push the anticoagulant around into unswollen flesh, making it swell.

ajb at Answerbag.com Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.