That red itchy lump can be the bane of your existence, but if you’re constantly fighting off the midget attacks, it could all boil down to your blood type. Elizabeth Tanzi, a dermatologist in Washington DC, explained to Men’s Health that despite myths or misconceptions on skin colour and melatonin, it’s actually your blood type attracting those pesky mosquitos: “We still don't completely understand why or what the issue is with the blood type. But it’s typically type O blood that attracts them.” So what else could be affecting your chances of being bitten? Apparently, we’re all likely to receive the same number of bites, but it’s the sensitivity of your skin’s reaction that can dictate if you’re even aware of a bite: “There are two things at play here. It's also the fact that some people's skin reacts more vividly than others. If you have more sensitive skin, a bug bite could trigger the release of inflammatory cells to the area, similar to the reaction of hives. When those people get a bite, they can have a tremendous amount of swelling.” So what’s the best way to protect against mosquito attacks? Put 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract to a cup of water in a spray bottle and mix to repel mosquito, spritzing the formula on pulse points. Eating garlic and taking antihistamines for  a few days before your trip and during your stay on holidays can also help keep those bites at bay.