In a video posted on Instagram, Dr Marie Jourdan, dermatologist and venereologist, reminds us that a mosquito bite can leave a mark for longer than we imagine. Important point: this mark is not necessarily a scar. In some people, it may be a pigment spot linked to inflammation.
A brown mark is not always a scar
After a mosquito bite, the skin often reacts with redness, slight swelling and itching. This local reaction is banal. But once the pimple disappears, sometimes a darker area remains visible. This phenomenon often corresponds to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after an injection.
In other words, the skin has been irritated or inflamed, then the area remains brown, grayish or darker than the rest of the skin. It is not the same thing as a scar in the strict sense, which permanently modifies the texture of the skin, for example with a hollowed, thickened or raised area.
The mark can persist for several weeks, sometimes several months, especially if the bite has been scratched a lot or if the inflammation has been significant. This is not systematic: some bites disappear without leaving the slightest trace. The risk depends in particular on the reaction of the skin, scratching, exposure to the sun and phototype.
These post-inflammatory spots can be more visible and more prolonged on dark to dark skin, which is more prone to this type of hyperpigmentation after irritation. This does not mean that they are serious, but they can take a long time to fade and are sometimes aesthetically annoying.
The right actions to reduce the risk of lasting traces
There is no method that guarantees zero marks after a sting. The realistic goal is to reduce with a few tips:
- Avoid scratching as much as possible: scratching causes irritation, can damage the skin and promotes post-inflammatory marks;
- Apply cold to the bite if the itching or pain is bothersome to locally calm the reaction;
- Limit new bites with loose, covering clothing, mosquito nets and, if necessary, suitable repellents, carefully following the instructions, particularly in children and during pregnancy;
- Protect the area from the sun if a spot appears or if the skin is still repairing, as sun exposure can make hyperpigmentation more visible.
And if you just got bitten…
To soothe a mosquito bite and avoid scratching, it is better to stick to simple and validated actions. On the other hand, you should not randomly apply irritating products, essential oils or depigmenting treatments: if in doubt, seek advice from a health professional.
A sting should also be monitored if the appearance changes markedly. Severe redness that spreads, pain that increases, discharge or fever may suggest an infection and warrant medical advice. This advice does not concern the isolated brown spot itself, but the signs which sometimes accompany an irritated or superinfected skin lesion.