Why do mosquitoes like me so much?

Q: I get bitten by mosquitoes much more often than my friends and family. Why is that? And is there anything I can do to make it stop?

Mosquitoes are attracted to all humans, said Christopher Potter, an associate professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. But if you find yourself chasing them away more often than those around you, it’s possible you’re one of the unlucky ones who is naturally more tempted by mosquitoes.

There’s no single, definitive reason why some people get bitten more than others, said Dr. Potter – partly because it’s a challenging problem for scientists to study.

But experts have identified two main categories of factors that make us more attractive to mosquitoes: biologicals we can’t change and behaviors we can.

Your biology

The most important of the first group of factors is how you smell. Dozens of different molecules distributed all over your body come together to create your unique fragrance.

“It’s like strawberries — there isn’t any scent in a strawberry that gives it that scent,” said Dr. Potter. “It’s a combination of a dozen scents that all come together.”

And it’s likely this signature mix of chemical compounds that draws mosquitoes in, he said.

It’s also possible that some people give off more of the scent mosquitoes love, said Lindy McBride, an associate professor of ecology, evolutionary biology and neuroscience at Princeton University.

That doesn’t mean someone who is particularly odorous to humans will always be a target for mosquitoes — mosquitoes are sensitive to different kinds of odors, even those that humans can’t detect, said Dr. McBride. For example, “Mosquitoes like underarm odor,” she said. “Nobody ever thinks their arms stink.”

Mosquitoes are attracted to sebum, a waxy, oily substance on the skin that protects it from drying out and contains molecules that contribute to your smell.

Blood type may also matter, said Dr. Christopher Bazzoli, an emergency medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic who specializes in wilderness medicine. mosquitoes corpses attract towards people with Type O blood, he said, for reasons researchers have not confirmed.

The individual pattern of how you breathe – what Dr. Bazzoli called the “breathing signature” – also plays a role. Mosquitoes seek out carbon dioxide (which is partly why they’re so good at finding us), and the more we exhale, the more carbon dioxide we send into the air, inviting insects our way.

Your behaviour

Then there are the factors that depend more on how you behave during the day.

If you did vigorous exercise outside, you could breathe heavier and exhale more carbon dioxide, which could usher in mosquitoes, said Dr. Potter.

Sweat also sends a powerful signal to mosquitoes, Dr. McBride added — especially sweat that lingers for a few hours and mixes with bacteria on our skin.

And if you’ve had a few beers by the beach or happy hour margaritas, you may also be expelling some alcohol in your sweat, Dr. Bazzoli said, which can lure mosquitoes in. In addition, alcohol can change the chemical makeup of your body odor. , he said, which could attract mosquitoes.

How to keep the buzzers at bay

There are a few evidence-based strategies for warding them off.

Some fragrant personal care products, such as certain perfumes and scented soaps and lotions (including sunscreen) can attract mosquitoes, said Dr. Bazzoli, so if you spend time outdoors when mosquitoes are around, try using products that are fragrance-free and consider skipping perfume entirely.

Certain clothing colors such as black and dark blue can act as a mosquito magnet, he added. Research also suggests that mosquitoes are attracted to bright orange and red. Stick to lighter colors, Dr. Bazzoli said; and if you want to be extra careful, wear long sleeves and pants. For added protection, you can also have clothing treated with permethrin, an insecticide that kills mosquitoes on contact, he said.

A number of repellents can keep mosquitoes at bay, in part by effectively masking the smell from your skin, said Dr. Potter. Wirecutter, The New York Times’ product recommendation service, recommends products containing picaridin instead of DEET.

There are also electronics and gadgets such as specialized string lights or gear made by the Thermacell company that can help get rid of mosquitoes from the outdoor area around you.

Or you can try a simple trick recommended by Dr. McBride: Grab a fan and point it under a table (since mosquitoes like to hang near the ground and bite our feet, she said). As indestructible — and endlessly annoying — mosquitoes may seem, they struggle in a breeze, she said. “They are not good fliers.”