why do we press X on mosquito bites we all do it using our fingernails to create an X indent in a fresh juicy mosquito bite doing this does provide some relief from the Ed even if it's only temporary but why does this work a mosquito bite is formed when a mosquito uses its perosis to pierce through your skin and suck up blood as it's feeding it injects its saliva into your skin the saliva contains proteins that most people are allergic to so a small red very itchy bump forms on your skin according to to This research paper itch and pain are two distinct but closely related Sensations they actually share largely overlapping mediators and receptors when you press an X into your mosquito bite it actually causes you a small amount of pain these nerve receptors tell you something hurts which in turn distracts your brain from the itchiness by feeding you a different sensation and when you feel pain that releases a small amount of endorphins which can make you feel even better tldr pain distracts from itchiness and pressing X is a way to make that effect last for short while so the next time you get beaten by mosquito you know exactly what to do