Is this a side effect of vaping?

[DC2]

Mosquito bites.

Yes, I'm serious.

For as long as I can remember I have not been the favored target of mosquitoes.
Whenever we venture into mosquito territories, my wife is the one who comes away bitten up.

But we just came back from a weekend camping trip, and she has zero mosquito bites.
And I have 9 of them, 6 of which are on my ankles (through my socks) even though she was wearing sandals.

And then I realized that lately, I have been the one getting more mosquito bites.

And then I started thinking maybe I've become a lot tastier since I stopped smoking.
Or since I started vaping.
Or both.

So, a serious question, has ANYBODY else noticed a similar phenomenon?

Because I've seen a lot of vaping health benefits talked about throughout this forum for years now.
And I've seen some of the potential pitfalls that some people might have to deal with.

But I have never seen anyone ever mention anything about becoming more tasty to mosquitoes.

 

[dcannon1]

I will say I gotten eaten alive by mosquitos tonight while watering our garden. More so than normal.

However, all bugs are awful this year in GA. We had a really mild winter and all manner of bugs have appeared sooner and in greater numbers than if we had a real winter.

 

[Loveridden]

I haven't.....yet. But I wonder if I will be more of a target outside blowing vapor their way instead of cigarette smoke......I always heard that cigarette smoke repelled mosquitos....wouldn't surprise me if we were tastier now too lol

 

[almostfunctional]

Even Mosquitos are smart enough to stay away from analogs apparently .

 

[wolcen]

Has anything else changed? Your favored foods/drinks? I drink less coffee. No idea what matters to a mosquito, but I certainly have been more motivated to attempt to eat better, and exercise more (more fun when you can do so without wheezing) in light of the harm reduction benefits of vaping. Perhaps it's a flavor you used that they like or that your CO2 (pretty sure they are attracted to CO2) output has higher quality now

Again, I have no idea really. I haven't noticed a marked increase but have spent little time in wooded areas or out at night.

 

[bmiller70555]

I live in south louisiana and the mosquitos are out this world out here. Sometimes you can't tell if its a bloodsucker or dragonfly coming at you lol. I haven't noticed any change in them favoring me. They still eat my girlfriend alive tho lol.

 

[MastiffMike]

FWIW, I noticed no change when I started vaping. I've always been tasty to mosquitos, and vaping hasn't changed that. My wife and kids hardly ever get bit, while I get eaten alive! Heck, every 4th of July when we watch fireworks we sit right next to each other and when we get home there'll be 2-3 bites TOTAL between the 3 of them, while I'll have 6-8 myself! Mosquitos literally go around them to get to me. Not sure why that is, but it's been this way my whole life and vaping hasn't changed a thing! (Wish it did though!)

 

[spaceballsrules]

Yes, vaping makes you more attractive to mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are attracted to moisture, including the moisture in human breathing. Since vaping produces a lot of moist breath, it attracts more mosquitoes.

 

[B2L]

I thought that mosquitos were becoming resistant to the deep woods off I have been using, never crossed my mind that it might be the vaping, makes sense though. Just my luck, I traded COPD for West Nile Virus!

 

[ohai]

I always heard that mosquitos and gnats would be more attracted to you if you used shampoos or soaps with sweet floral or fruity fragrances, so if that's true, it's possible they'd be attracted to the smell of sweet/fruity e-juices, too.

I personally haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary- I'm anemic, so they tend to ignore me.

 

[mattiem]

It's sad to say that it hasn't changed at all for me. They loved me before and love me still.

 

[classwife]

My first thought is ... have you been eating bananas ?
They seem to love you if you eat bananas...
Coming to Florida every year, I always had to back off bananas for about 2 weeks before coming out here...and now that I live here - they are off the list completely !

 

[kabonk]

when I was a smoker everybody around me would get bit but not me, now I'm a mosquito magnet I need a gallon of deet

 

[mattiem]

I didn't know that about bananas. I seldom ever eat them. I know I need too for the potassium in them but seldom have them on hand.

 

[HawkeyeFLA]

My first thought is ... have you been eating bananas ?
They seem to love you if you eat bananas...
Coming to Florida every year, I always had to back off bananas for about 2 weeks before coming out here...and now that I live here - they are off the list completely !

I didn't know that about bananas. I seldom ever eat them. I know I need too for the potassium in them but seldom have them on hand.

It's not just bananas, but what they have in them. Mosquitos are attracted to potassium. Bananas just happen to have a huge ammount in them. But if you take any suplements that have potassium in it, you're going to be targeted as well.

 

[VapingRulz]

So, a serious question, has ANYBODY else noticed a similar phenomenon?

Yes, I've had the same experience. For years I had hardly a single bite but now, it's like they just noticed me standing there.

 

[papawhiskey]

I use to never get bitten but this year they are attacking me pretty good. I had put it down to a very mild winter with no freezes but you never know!

 

[kritikal]

Now that you mention it, I do get biten more by mosquitoes since making the switch!

I was always a huge target for mosquitoes and looking back, when I started smoking I virtually stopped getting bitten. Now, having begun vaping, I'm once more a target.

Tobacco smoke can act as an insect repellant, however, I'm unsure if this is directly related to nicotine or not. I would imaginethat other factors would weigh in such as the smoke from a substance being burnt and other chemicals in cigarette smoke. So perhaps the cigarette smoke that once lingered upon us acted as a deterrent.

I'd much rather be riddled with mosquito bites than be smoking though!

 

[merlin440]

I think it's the lack of tabacco odor that lets you get bit more often, I have noticed I'm not "immune" anymore. All the time everyone would complain and I'd be like well I'm not getting bit. I still don't get bit a lot, but more then I have in the past.

 

[Mr.Mann]

I have several bee hives in the inside of my back door. These bees and I coexist without any problems---as a matter of fact, I like the little things---I really dig their work ethic!
Now, when it comes to mosquitoes....I have a deep seeded abhorrence and flat out hatred for those little flying bleepity bleeps. But, for some reason, they love me like like they are trying to friggin' mate with me. Jeez-us! Smoking never repelled them and vaping is just like putting sprinkles on ice cream for 'em. After a long winter, as much as I welcome the weather, I always miss the mosquito-less season!!!