MOSQUITOES
& DEET
Biting
insects are part of our environment. The insects are attracted to
people by a number of chemical and physical factors, including carbon
dioxide from our breath, body heat and chemicals in our sweat and
on the surface of our skin. Certain colors and textures of clothing
and even the odor from soaps, perfumes and lotions may attract some
mosquitoes and biting fleas. When used sensibly, repellants will provide
some personal protection from biting insects. The following information
is presented to answer some commonly asked questions about repellants
and mechanical devices reported to repel insects.
What
is DEET?
DEET is the active ingredient in many insect repellants. It is used
to repel many biting insects, such as ticks and mosquitoes. Products
containing DEET are currently available in a variety of liquids, lotions,
spray and gels. Formulations registered for direct application to
human skin contain from 4% to 100% DEET. For adults, products containing
25% to 35% will be effective under most circumstances.
What
precautions should be used with DEET?
- Always use
DEET according to manufacturer's directions on the label.
- Do not apply
DEET to children under 2 years old. Pregnant women should take care
to avoid exposure to DEET whenever possible.
- Do not allow
children to handle mosquito repellant and store repellants out of
the reach of children.
- Do not apply
DEET directly to children. Apply to your hands and then put it on
the child.
- Repellants
are irritating to the eyes and mouth, so avoid applying repellants
to the hands of children.
- Do not use
DEET of greater than 10% on children. There are formulations labeled
for children that have concentrations of 5 to 6.5% DEET.
- Avoid prolonged
or excessive use of DEET. Use sparingly to cover exposed skin and
clothing.
- Do not apply
to skin covered by clothing.
- Wash all treated
skin and clothing with soap and water after returning indoors. Never
use repellants over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
Is IR3535 an
effective alternative to DEET?
IR3535 is the most recently marketed chemical repellant in the U.S.
although it has been used in Europe for over 20 years. Presently,
this repellant is only available through AVON as Skin-So-Soft Bug
Guard Plus IR3535.
Is Skin-So-Soft
bath oil an effective mosquito repellant?
Studies have shown that Skin-So-Soft bath oil has a very minimal repellant
effect and is at least 10 times less effective than 12.5% DEET.
