Why do my bug bites itch so much?

Do your mosquito bites itch more than other people around you? It could be a sign of histamine intolerance.

Long before I went digging down the research rabbit hole about all of this, I always wondered why I could have 60 mosquito bites on my legs and not even notice or be bothered by them, while others around me could have only a few mosquito bites and they are itching their skin until it bleeds!

Histamine is a molecule released from your immune system when you encounter a foreign substance (like a bug bite). Histamine goes in and causes itchiness & swelling while other immune factors do the job of gobbling up the foreign invader to get rid of it.

An enzyme DAO is also at play, as it degrades the histamine once you’re body is done with it. An inability to degrade histamine can cause you to be overly symptomatic to the itchiness of a bug bite.

Sometimes it’s the most peculiar symptoms that can help me piece together the root cause of what is going on with your health.

Next time you go camping (at a socially acceptable distance from other people 😉) you can share this fun fact with them.

👉🏿👉🏾👉🏼Why should you care about a histamine intolerance?

Other than the fact that bug bites are super annoying, a histamine intolerance can be part of a bigger picture when it comes to addressing other health concerns, like: your digestive symptoms, your likelihood of getting sick, your period pain/PMS... and I recently went so far down the rabbit hole that I found some super interesting details about histamine and fertility!

Never leave out any small detail when it comes to your health. There is a reason why the intake forms and initial appointment with a naturopathic doctor is so long! 🤪 Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.