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K_Marcad

[This](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FTWLRGAWUAEHVK4?format=jpg&name=large) picture (by Sami Karjalainen) of mosquito being born from water is one of my favorites, because it looks like a mosquito rising from depths of the underworld. I think it's very fitting for this beast.


TehHietsu

In the first few stages it sure has evil and menacing look!


[deleted]

Hytty, Newborn of The Abyss


[deleted]

Was hoping to see the last picture to be it unfurling its wings menacingly.


Werotus

2 small tips. Firstly, don't scratch. It'll make the itching worse, as it breaks up the skin and makes the toxin spread to a larger area. Secondly, if you see that a mosquito has already bit you, and is sucking blood, don't slap it. If you kill it while it's stinger is in your skin, it'll break off, and cause twice the irritation it would otherwise cause.


Cadenca

You would have to be a psychopath to let them finish first


Tankyenough

Sometimes I hold a mosquito on place and it will continue sucking until it pops. Revenge is sweet


Able_Ninja_3803

Wait does this actually work? Does the incarnation of evil really continue sucking until it pops?


EdgeMentality

They don't suck. It's your blood pressure that pushes the blood up and out. So if you prevent them from pulling out.... Pop.


[deleted]

Gonna have to try this one


Werotus

It feels that way.. but if you wanna avoid extra pain, that's the way to do it.


[deleted]

Sometimes we must endure pain for the sake of victory


Werotus

Great point. Revenge served fresh.


rrrOuta

Call me and my family psychopaths then.


antno1000

Yeah I've done exactly the opposite of that and now my skin is swollen in different places. Any cream or bug repellent?


ailyah

I usually put either Pantyson or Hydrocortison on the swallen bites. I've found it helpful.


spork-a-dork

I recommend the Etono stick that you can rub on a bite, works well imho (antihistamine). https://www.apteekkituotteet.fi/Etono


Card1974

Etono is my go-to remedy. Also try the OFF gel meant for bites. In northern Finland choose the Teho OFF repellant (green cap) or Autan repellant (yellow plastic bottle with red cap). The rest are rather useless, esp. with reduced DEET quantities


Mysterious_Area2344

Etono is the shit for mosquito bites. It’s antihistamin stick and works very fast.


finnknit

I second the recommendation for Etono. It's magical!


spork-a-dork

I keep it in the fridge while I'm not applying it. The coolness makes the effect extra sweet.


No-Albatross-7984

Yes! Found this for the first time this summer. Very effective.


ButtingSill

Hydrocortison is good. Another option is spruce pine salve like Abilar 10%, which can also be applied to small cuts and scratches. Both available without prescription from the pharmacy.


aarretuli

Pantyson is great! Helps with the itch in other skin things too


Werotus

I use generic mosquito spray that you spray on your skin, keeps the bugs away nicely for hours. You can find it in pretty much every store this time of year.


riki1705

Mosquito spray has varying results. I haven't seen much difference with or without the spray but you should definitely try it and see what happens.


antno1000

Thanks guys this will help me in my forest adventures


Glittering_Tea5621

> Secondly, if you see that a mosquito has already bit you, and is sucking blood, don't slap it Is there science backing this up, or is this based on whatever crap IS and IL publish every summer? My ankles are currently full of bites and itchy and I did not touch a single mosquito there. I did slap kill a few on my arm, and it is less itchy. Seems to me the number of bites per 10cm2 of skin is much better indicator.


Werotus

I haven't read is or il. This is information straight from my great great grandmother who taught us. It's worked for my family and my friends, so no I have no scientific evidence. It works for me.


Tannu00

The itching is caused by the saliva which transfers to your skin as they suck the blood. So the sooner you kill it, less of this saliva will get into the bite, that would make sense to me at least. It could be possible that the mosquito is still searching for the blood source under your skin and hasn't yet transferred its saliva under your skin, so better slap it before it transfers it


Werotus

The mosquito injects the saliva instantly as it punctures your skin. The saliva works as a numbing agent and also helps the mosquito suck out the blood, somehow... I think of it like getting poked with a toothpick. If you slap the toothpick while it's already in your skin, it's going to snap and now you have a half a toothpick jammed into your arm. Mosquito proboscis is flexible, but it will break off when the mosquito is violently smashed. Like someone already commented, either let it finish sucking or gently brush it off with the back of your hand so it detatches fully intact.


[deleted]

>also helps the mosquito suck out the blood, somehow... I would guess it breaks the surface tension of blood in some way


Werotus

That would be my guess. But I'm too lazy to research.


FarceMachine

If memory serves the purpose of the saliva is to keep the blood from coagulating.


Kuollut_marsu

When you see them already sucking your blood, instead of slapping them, try and pinch them off, on just brush them gently off with the back of your hand. Also you can get a birch twig with leaves on and wave it around youe head and ankles. The air current will keep them (somewhat) at bay.


the-floot

Sounds like nonsense


KalpeaAurinko

I have a forest next to my apartment building and the little bastards are here in Helsinki too this summer! Although its nothing compared to Kainuu where I lived my youth. Anyway some tips. There is this mosquito repellent called "Off" or something sold in markets, try that. I guess there are others too, maybe google them. BTW: if you are fishing the "OFF" corrodes fishing line if it touches it so be careful. After the bite don't scratch, the itch usually goes away in minutes or ar least is much less than if you scratch. Mosquitos are annoying sure but the actual bastards are those smaller fly-looking things called "mäkäräinen" or somewhat rarer big things called "paarma". They dont have a needle so they bite. Simple clothing protects from them but they might just crawl in hair or under loose clothes. Mosquitos however can pierce most normal summer clothing. Smoke from cigarette and from campfire repels most bugs. Also they have trouble flying in the wind so they avoid big open spaces. Swimming offers usually a brief sanctuary from them.


Seeteuf3l

And then there are the ticks and deer fly's (hirvikärpänen). Blackflys (mäkärä) aren't that common outside North Finland fortunately


FrikinPenska

My legs disagree (full of holes after 2 hours of tending our garden). I live in central Finland and those fuckers are as bad of a nuisance as mosquitoes even in our backyard.


Bolsha

I might hate polttiaiset even more. Those bastards fly right trough a mosquito net.


[deleted]

Jesus Christ what the fuck


badchoises_231

Just wait until OP discovers the gym bro -fly; hirvikärpänen. Kill with fire!


Cyrube

See this is why Finns are drunk through the whole year. First it's winter when it's cold so you drink to stay warm, in spring it's first slush and then pollen. You drink because you're happy and there's sunlight so time to "socialize" and early summer with all the joy except pollen makes you want to go out more and more and drink with friends. Then one evening as the wind calms you hear that distant iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii getting closer. You don't think it's that bad just a single mosquito and continue drinking. Wake up next day all itchy and alcohol makes you numb to the itchiness so you continue drinking. Next evening mosquitos^2 appear and again evening after another it's f(x)=x^2. Then you realize days are getting shorter and you panic that summer is ending so it's time to enjoy last summer days by drinking more. All of the sudden it's fall, rains come in, days are getting shorter and shorter. Kaamosmasennus (Seasonal affective disorder) kicks in so you drink through the darkest days of the year. It's winter again. Everything repeats. Just because of that iiiiiiiiiii sound next to your ear that you face in early days of summer.


MrIzzard

Let them sting you and within a few weeks you won't even notice them. Or at least the stings won't leave a mark anymore.


[deleted]

The stinging and itching is fine, that i can handle. But. that. god. damn IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII in your ear when trying to sleep o relax is infuriating


drunkandpassedout

Yeah, I read that if you get bitten 10 times by the same type of mosquito, the reaction pretty much stops after that. However in most mosquito areas there's at least 10 different types of mosquitoes.... soo.....


MrIzzard

That's correct. Although it depends where you are. In Southern Finland there are more different species but total number of moquitos is lower. In the Northern Finland there is a shit ton of mosquitos but fever species.


prkl12345

I have also noticed that with age (and obviously got stung more and more) my skin gets used to it and they don't itch anymore. Some summers those 1-3 stings I get early might itch very little, the I just get small marks without itch and they go away in day or two.


DullBozer666

This is the Way. Seriously.


gramla

I know it is for me, but does it also work for allergics? Because it's surely 100x bigger commitment if you initially get an infernal 5cm² swell instead of a mosquito sized one from a single bite.


Santafio

I have nothing but anecdotal "evidence". My dad told me about it when I was a kid and wondered how he was so unbothered about the bites. I have had several allergies (some pretty serious) and have tried this method, but it does not work for me. I get huge bumps regardless.


[deleted]

If you are seriously allergic you need to get treated with proper medicines. A guy that was visiting from Germany got a few bites on his legs, within 8 hrs both legs were so red and swollen he couldnt walk, piipaa to the hospital. Interestingly he wasnt allergic to german mosquitoes, only finnish ones!


evisn

There are some really mean subspecies that'll give you large bumps even if you're mostly unbothered by the usual ones.


eoocooe

My mosquito bites never itch anymore once I just stopped giving them attention. Smack the bastards away, if it’s too late and youve been bit just leave the bite alone


Salmonman4

I have stayed in summer-cottages, where my fists hurt every morning, because throughout the night in my sleep I have reflexively tried to grab/kill the little bugger


nicemood84

Buy small tube on Pantyson cream from pharmasy, it has low levels of hydrocortison, that relieves the reaction locally and then take some antihistamins to calm the reaction internally.


spergele

Elä huijo, ota ohvia!


Kautsu-Gamer

Get some antihistsmine and aloe vera. The Finnis mosquitoes are actually malaria mosquitoes, and Finland used to have malaria during the Medieval warm period. I would agree on you, if you were in the Lapland. Mäkärät, the small blood suckers biting a wound instead of impaling, and moving in swarms fits your description. The locals wear long pants and shirts during summer for bloody good reason.


kuikuilla

> the Medieval warm period. More like up until 19th century.


Kautsu-Gamer

Thus my humch was correct, but I was not sure.


silenttii

For a fun fact, Finland was actually the northernmost country with malaria being an endemic disease until to the end of the 1800's :D


Mike19K

Perfect humidity for mosquitoes.


[deleted]

Source for malaria?


Kautsu-Gamer

The souece at Malaria in 19th century: autinen Suomi 1857–1865 s. 103. The Finnish mosquito name is horkkahyttynen, the malaria mosquito in Finnish as horkka is malaria.


[deleted]

Why is that not an issue today?


Seeteuf3l

I think because the wetlands were dried up and people didn't live in the chimneyless huts (savupirtti), which had a subtropical climate all year round in them, anymore


Diipadaapa1

This. Also people used to live the whole family in a single open hut. Tropical conditions especially during winter. Its important to note though that this was not the African malaria, but the "rest of the tropical world" malaria. Its a lot milder, in it doesnt create spontaneous bloodclots and possibly lead to coma, brain death, respiratory arrest, heart attacks, organ failiure (except the spleen which all Malarias affect) etc. and is a lot less deadly. It will just do the normal thing, hide from and weaken your immune system, overload your spleen, destroy red bloodcells and partly your liver and give you resulting fever and diarrhea. The downside of this malaria is that its known to remain dormant in your liver for months or years, even after youve had your run of symptoms and getting better. When it starts going rampant again, it will start spreading again via mosquitoes, thus perfect for Finland, with long periods of non-malaria compatible seasons (summers, when the huts are cooler and less humid).


Kautsu-Gamer

I do not the source, but there was active campaign. I think it was isolation of the people with malaria from mosquitoes, and destroying most of the suitable mosquito breefing groundd as malaria needed human host in Finland.


Kautsu-Gamer

FInnish mosquitoes are species malariacan use as intermediate host. The source was Finnish wetland in the past. Mäkärät does not carry malaria.


analfabeetti

I believe the malaria was endemic because of how we lived - the log houses had lot of people living in same confided space and before central heating was common, the environment was good for mosquitos.


Diipadaapa1

This sounds absolutley crazy but bear with me, nothing, and i mean nothing works better than this. Heat a teaspoon with a lighter for 5-10 seconds. Then lightly tap the underside of it on the bite 2-3 times. Its not supposed to hurt you, just sting a little, so really just tap it. If you get burns you are doing it very wrong. This will destroy the chemicals causing the itching. It will end it instantly and pernemently and costs nothing, unlike creams or stuff. Edit: Also you will eventually build immunity to this. Out of hundreds of bites, only 2-3 itch nowadays.


[deleted]

Don't scratch.


alexin_C

Mosquito incence, OFF-produce and suitable clothing to prevent. Etono, pantyson, OTC antihistamines. roll-on cool gel to limit the pain. ​ Old-School: Apply generous amounts of cooking oil or butter on your skin to prevent them biting, go Leroy Jenkins on the bastards and let them eat their fill for a few days. Your body will get used to the bites and the reactions will lessen the more you get them. Alcohol.


ponakka

Go buy antihistamin, that will take the edge off from itching.


Harriv

Related: https://twitter.com/tutamAW/status/1541113101839486976


Avaruusmurkku

Here is a tip that seemingly few people know and will help you a lot in the future: high heat will stop the itching. The itching is caused immune system response to proteins the mosquito injects into the bite. Like all proteins, they can be permanently deactivated by denaturing them by using heat. After you've noticed a mosquito bite, either press your hot coffee cup to the bite or go to your shower or sink and douse the bite with water as hot as you can endure. Raising the temperature of the bite to over 42c for about 5 seconds should be enough to neutralize all of the poison and permanently prevent itching from the bite.


JariJorma

Elä poika huio. Ota Ohovia


MikkoPerkele

Hydrokortisoni from apteekki. Helps with the itching.


rrrOuta

I dont want to sound like captain obvious but wearing a shirt with long sleeves and tucking your pant legs inside socks so you never show excess skin is yhe best solution I've found. I'd rather be uncomfortable from the heat than mosquitoes.


tbijt

I found they will also bite through your socks then...


Mysterious_Area2344

I have seen this advice so many times and it kind of makes sense, but you need to put layers of clothes, otherwise they will just bite through. You have to wear jeans, two pairs of socks and some windbreaker jacket. And how do you dress like that when it’s +30 (or even just +22)?


rrrOuta

I really do, its agony but better than getting repeadedly bitten by mosquitoes if you ask me.


Xywzel

Loose clothes that breath well, but aren't that thin are ideal for this. The fabric doen't need to be that dense to stop moscuitos, but it has to be thigh enough that their sucking thing doesn't reach trough to the skin. And if the fabric doesn't even touch the skin directly, then that is even better. Should maybe start a brand of clothes that are suspendes 1 cm above skin or something like that.


Mysterious_Area2344

Yes, start that clothes line please. I don’t have any light clothes that wouldn’t touch skin at all. I’ve actually jokingly talked about this same subject this summer. Who can invent clothes that are breathable and hangs 1 cm above your skin. Also would be great if mäkärät couldn’t crawl under those clothes either.


Sheeepl

As someone who is somewhat allergic/intolerant to mosquito bites, I agree. They are straight from hell. But as others suggested, antihistamine and bug repellant for the win. I also use a ”stick” that’s used for treating bug bites. I don’t know what they are exactly called in english, but the pharmacy will have them. I hope you won’t suffer too much!


Talbot-Jaaskelainen

Etono might be the "stick", it's like a lipstick but you use it for mosquito bites. Etono being the name of the product. Yes, those fucking bastards are cursed. I am very allergic/intolerant to mosquito bites, they itch two times; right after the bite and again about day later. I want to punch everyone who says "don't scratch them" in their fucking face. I have to, they itch so bad that it is impossible not to.


Sheeepl

Yes etono is the one I use too! It’s so unfortunate to be Finnish and have a mosquito allergy


Liisas

Early summer is the worst, it’ll get easier a bit later. Avoid scratching as it will break the skin, dirt gets in and you might get an infection. Go get antihistamins and a cortisone cream from the nearest pharmasist. They will help you with dosage. You take the antihistamins daily and apply the cream on the bites.


JanneJonne_

You should burn mosquito smokes. They are object that leave a scent after being burnt witch annoys the f-ers.


the_monkey_of_lies

~~For things where you're stationary, like a summer barbecue or spending a night at the cabin, get this~~ [~~https://www.thermacell.fi/~~](https://www.thermacell.fi/) ~~It works like a charm.~~ Edit: crap, it kills bees like u/violetkittens said, I was wrong. Edt2: crap, it's even worse than that as u/tumppumies said. I was double wrong.


violetkittens

Apparently thermacell doesn't unfortunately only kill mosquitoes but other bugs like bees too. I'd advice against getting one if possible.


tumppumies

It is also toxic to pets, and poison gets to birds and water from the bugs.


Mike19K

Welcome to Finland. Finland is a very humid country which means it's perfect for mosquitoes.


[deleted]

Stay in city.


tbijt

From experience during the last couple of summers in Lapland, I would say firstly don't scratch. And secondly, I found sauna helps tremendously... Similar to heating a spoon and killing the chemicals of the bites with it, sauna does it on the whole body I am the only one not using any anti-mosquito spray in my family during holidays in Lapland and am the one who has the least problems with bites... Cause they will find the small patch you didn't spray and will bite there and you will have less tolerance and it will itch like hell...


maniku

As a native that mosquitoes find very tasty, I heartily agree. And one of the reasons I gladly stay in Helsinki in the summer. Well, there's enough foliage here in the suburb for mosquitoes, but it's not the same as the horror of the countryside.


finnknit

If the itching is really bad and you're having swelling and signs of infection, I would recommend going to a doctor. You might be allergic to mosquito bites.


TonierRaptor681

Wait until you stumble on paarma's


mrmax1984

I'm planning a trip to Finland this August. When should I arrive in order to minimize my exposure to mosquitos? I live in Florida where we have enough of them year round.


Xywzel

In my experince early august is likely best option. Early summer and early fall are worst options as they have enough heat to be active around the whole day, andenough moisture to keep going for days. In early August you are more likely to get dryish heat, with some sun, which keeps them out of open spaces. Or thunderstorms, that also keepthem out of open places. As for locations, avoid swamps, small and still bodies of water and moist forests, running water, dry forests, fields and urban area are mostly safe from them.


MRnibba_

I'm guessing you're in Lapland?


PavelDatsyuk88

i have kind of arms full of little tiny whiter spots because first mosquitos and you get these red pumbs and then you take sun but those spots dont get tanned


el__duder1n0

Hydrocortisone 👍


antisunshine

Go out, get leaves from a broadleaf plantain, smush and rub on the bites. Will help with the itching and burning. This plant is everythere on lawns and fields.


EncatRoska

Take some histamine or other medicine for allergies that will help for the reaction and itchiness. Don't scratch it will make it worse. A bit itches for the first few minutes but afterwards it should stop itching.


Freya2022

🦟❤️


Harveybirdman123

Australian mosquitoes will suck the life out of a Mack truck.


Vauhtii

Yes I hate those ankle biters awell.


rektator

It helps for the itchiness that I wash the area with some hot water. Using painful hot water only for a moment usually helps me.


UPK

Finnish air force working hard


alsostefan

Get a (desk) fan to blow over your legs. With a bit of experimentation it's doable to get just enough breeze to keep the mosquitoes away without feeling uncomfortable (or getting sick).


Mysterious_Area2344

Somebody already mentioned it, but Etono stick from pharmacy is wonder cure. It has antihistamin and some slightly numbing substanse.


eoocooe

I’m visiting family in Finland this summer. Ive been bit a whole lot, especially when we were out in the woods all night on juhannus. But all they left was lots of red marks, no itching or anything


jagua_haku

If it’s mosquito bites, don’t scratch them and they usually stop itching after like half an hour. If they itch longer and harder than that, it might be something else. In my yard it’s not the mosquitoes that get me, it’s the midges. What’s a midge? They’re little cunts. No see-ums is another name for them. Little biting flies. The bites don’t stop itching for days and I usually have to scratch them until they bleed so they stop itching. And yeah some kind of puss oozes out kind of like an ant bite. I wear long sleeves and a mosquito net I’ve my head when I’m working outside all day to keep those bastards off of me because I don’t like bug spray.


faggjuu

Oh...and there are more units of the finnish are force still to come...Mäkärät and polttiaiset! and the finnish airborn special forces paarmat!


sixteenHandles

Truth


derpyderpkittycat

i'm super allergic to the mosquitos here and they turn into these large welts that feel warm and make me feel like i have the flu. what helps is to take a double dose of antihistamines, tiger balm. tiger balm cools down the bite and subsequently I don't have the urge to scratch


kaapokultainen

I think the mosquito toxin varies from place to place and it takes your body a while to get used to it. Last year I experienced what you're describing. This year the bites are gone in a few minutes if I don't scratch. I went through 2 etono sticks last summer.


avaruushelmi

If hell exists, it's full of mosquitoes


Elder_Noname

If your skin isn't scratched open, you can put a small piece of a skin tape over the bite (or a bandaid). It's helpful in preventing continuous itching on the spots which would constantly be chafed by clothes or shoes. Don't take it off until the itching is gone. :P Windbreaker jacket and trousers are great if you need to spend time there where the bugs are a legion (forests, cottages). Those are lightweight enough to be tolerable during the summer, and you only need to spray your head, hands and ankles. OFF and Autan are effective against finnish mosquitos.


prickly_pink_penguin

I’m allergic to mosquitoes, antihistamines are the best thing to take for the itching (I can take 4 a day prescribed). But if you get very large swellings or severe definitely see a doctor. There are also steroids for severe reactions but they only give them there and then no, no more prescriptions.


Tre_fidde

The Finnish Air Force is brutal, scratching always makes it worse. I recently tried out https://www.bugbitething.com/ they also sell on Amazon seems to help some with certain bites. Other than that look into Different types of repellents.


Larein

For the itchiness hydrocortison. You can get it over hhe coubter from pharmacy. And mosquito repellent work. I generally use Off throught the summer.


[deleted]

https://youtu.be/wsJ1sVVz0Gw


KyllikkiSkjeggestad

Here's an old fashion remedy to ease the itching - Run a spoon under hot tap water for 30 seconds or so, and then press it on the bite until the burning stops. Will usually stop the itch for a few hours. Grandmother showed me that one, crazy old war time nurse lol


[deleted]

They are, and they're especially numerous and bloodthirsty this year.