Do I have a Mosquito Allergy?

Mosquito allergy...help!?

• Help! I've had a moderate form of "Skeeter Syndrome" ever since I was little. When I get bitten by a mosquito, about 80% of the time, it swells up to about the size of an orange, or a softball, and proceeds to be a very painful, itchy, red-hot mega-welt for days. Also, depending on where it is, it can make it painful to walk. For example, I have one on the side of my knee, back of my shin right now, and anything faster than a walk makes my whole leg ache. Also, it seems to be more persistant on my legs and back. Typically my arms don't swell up very bad, or at all. Normally I would just apply a topical antihistamine and load up with the bug spray, but here's where things get sad. About...three years ago I developed an allergy to Deet; the most popular bug repellent ingrediant on the market (It's ironic, and depressing). It gives me hives, which is just as bad, if not worse, than the bites themselves. This leaves me with very limited bug repelling options. Most of them my father (bless his soul) has forbid me from using because they "Stink like the dickens" which, granted, they do. Also, my dad INSISTS on leaving the windows open during the summer. So while I keep mosquito netting over my bedroom window, they just come in from the rest of the house. *sigh* I've gotten too used to benedryl cream, and the pills bother my asthma, (I'm a mess, I know. :D ) and afterbite doesn't seem to work. I don't tend to notice the swelling till it's too late to apply it. Any ideas? non-smelly repelling devices? Anti-Bug food stuffs? I'm about willing to try anything. I like to jog in the mornings, but I can't with my legs all swollen like this. It's a real bother.

• Answer:

  I have this as well. To reduce swelling faster my doctor recommended warming up a towel (it has to be hot) and applying it on the area for about 5 minutes every day. Everyone is technically allergic to mosquito bites that's why they are itchy. The mucus that is left behind from the mosquito bite in your skin after it bites you looks for the hottest place in your body in the area where it was left, and when you scratch it goes deeper, and deeper into your skin, making the area swell up. The hot towels/pads reduces the swelling in this way, making it rise up and out instead of down. You won't actually see anything left behind on the towel afterwards though. To avoid bug bites before I go to bed I usually rub baby oil all over my skin. Baby oil is very thick and mosquitos DON'T like getting it in their mouth parts when they're trying to bite you. In the day time I don't have any other suggestions besides this and Vick's. For some reason mosquitos don't like the smell of Vick's! Good luck.