Insect Repellent

Has anyone besides me noticed that the spring rains have brought more than just water to replenish the earth? My family has already experienced an influx of mosquitos and ticks around the house. It is important to be informed before selecting an insect repellent for use this spring and summer to ensure that you are taking all precautions to protect your family’s health! Mosquitos, flies, and ticks can be annoying and sometimes pose a serious risk to public health.

In comparing the wide variety of insect repellents available on the market, it is important to consider form and concentration, active ingredients, cost per use, type of insect repelled, as well as other factors, such as ease of use, odor, and how the product feels on the skin. It is important to purchase products that have been approved for use by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Always read labels carefully to determine any special precautions in using the products. When using on children, apply to your own hands; then put it on the child. Also, don’t spray in closed areas, avoid breathing the spray and don’t use near food.

Aerosol and pump-spray products are intended for skin applications as well as for treating clothing.  Liquid, cream, lotion, spray, and stick products enable direct skin applications.

Products with a low concentration of active ingredient may be appropriate for situations with minimal insect exposure. Higher concentrations of active ingredient may be useful in highly infested areas or with insect species that are more difficult to repel.  Repellents containing a higher concentration of active ingredient (such as DEET) provide longer-lasting protection.

            A variety of chemicals have been used to repel biting insects and ticks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the three most common active ingredients in repellents are DEET, picaridin and oil of eucalyptus. The conventional repellents DEET and picaridin are considered by the EPA to be the most effective active ingredients 

The gold standard for insect repellents is still DEET. It has broad spectrum activity and is effective against many insects and ticks, fleas and chiggers.  For casual use, a product containing 10-30 percent DEET should be adequate. Coverage provides 2-8 hours of protection. For children, it is best to be conservative and keep the concentration of DEET at 10 percent or less. It is important to note that DEET can damage plastics, leather, and synthetic fabrics like rayon so care must be taken when applying the repellent to clothing. A few of the marketed DEET  products are:  Off Deep Woods, Repel Insect Repellent, and Off Skintastic for Kids.

Picaridin has 4-8 hours of effectiveness, but because it is odorless, not irritating or greasy and doesn’t damage plastics or synthetics, many people prefer it to DEET. Some products containing picaridin include Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent, Avon Skin-so-Soft Bug Guard Plus Picaridin and Off Family Care Insect Repellent.

Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, a bio-repellent which is derived from natural materials, supplies about 6 hours of protection.  It is important to be aware that products containing lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years. A few of the oil of lemon eucalyptus  marketed products include Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent Lotion and Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent.

And finally, the CDC does not recommend using products that combine DEET with sunscreen. Sunscreens are intended for generous and frequent use while DEET is intended for less frequent use. The CDC recommendation is to apply sunscreen first, then the insect repellent containing DEET, to be sure that each product works as specified. 

For additional information on choosing an effective and safe insect repellent for your family, contact the Wise County Extension office at 940/627-3341.