K-pop sensations IU has revealed about her allergic reaction since childhood to mosquito bites, named as Skeeter Syndrome during her recent visit on the Youtube channel name Yoo In Radio.
In a light-hearted conversation with her close friend and host, Yoo In Na, in the episode that aired on Dec. 19, the singer talked about her experiences. But they changed channels and moved to serious tone when they talked about the discomfort of being bitten by mosquitoes.
"I really hate mosquitoes," IU admitted as quoted by XportsNews. "If I get bitten, a bump forms that looks like an old man's beak. It hurts so much that I have to take antibiotics because of it. It's like a mosquito allergy."
Surprised by the revelation, Yoo In-na ended up discovering that this condition is called Skeeter Syndrome in official contexts.
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IU revealed that her mosquito bite swells significantly, often resulting in blisters. "Mosquitoes always bite my face, and they leave scars. The areas where I was bitten as a child are still somewhat dead," she added.
This condition — known as skeeter syndrome — leads to serious swelling and pain, and there is no cure available.
Experts say cold compresses can ease symptoms, and if someone has an unusual reaction—shortness of breath—that medical attention is necessary.
Park Sung Hyun, who is married to former basketball player Hyun Joo Yeop, also shared the struggles of being an allergy sufferer like IU.
On the tvN STORY show "Cave Castle," she opened up about how difficult she has it with mosquito bites, saying that one bite can "send [her] to the emergency room because of the horrible amount of swelling and fever."
The conversation highlighted the often overlooked challenges faced by those with allergies, especially in outdoor settings where mosquitoes thrive.
IU concluded her segment by stating that she hated mosquitoes more than cockroaches.