Why do mosquito bites itch more when you scratch? | Itchy mosquito bites – What to do?

Why do mosquito bites itch more when you scratch?

Scratching is nothing more than a mechanical irritation of the skin. Similar to a massage, it stimulates the blood circulation in the tissue around the mosquito bite. The effect is that the pro-inflammatory secretion from the mosquito is better distributed through the bloodstream and can ignite an inflammation over a larger area as part of an allergic reaction. As a result, more inflammatory cells are activated by the body and there is a further release of the messenger substance histamine, which causes itching and allows it to be perceived subjectively more intensively.

Other accompanying symptoms

Almost every mosquito bite leads to an activation of the immune system, which manifests itself as inflammation in the affected person. The typical symptoms of inflammation are “redness, overheating, pain and swelling”, although they are expressed to varying degrees in different individuals. Affected persons can therefore usually observe a red, warm and painful spot around the mosquito bite itself.

If the immune system overreacts, those affected also often develop a fever and feel ill. This is due to the body’s attempt to kill the pathogen with the increased body temperature. If the body’s defensive reaction to the foreign substance “mosquito saliva” is even stronger, it is not uncommon to also notice an unusually intense swelling of the mosquito bite, which is accompanied by a significant increase in size and an accompanying feeling of heaviness of the body part. If a fluid-filled bladder finally forms in the area of the bite, affected persons should take this as a serious indication of an excessive reaction of their immune system and consult a doctor.