The safe use of insect repellents and information

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Mosquitoes got you itching? Browse around here for some remedies. We have reviews of different mosquito traps and an educational resource about mosquitoes, and what you can do to avoid being bitten.

Safe use of insect repellents


Despite a generally good safety record, the effective mosquito repellent known as
deet should be used with care. Over the years, there have been reports of severe
neurological effects, mostly involving children. The risk of adverse effects from
deet, including minor skin reactions, is almost certainly much lower than the risk
of catching the potentially devastating disease in areas affected by West Nile virus.
To use deet safely, use it correctly:

Don't use a stronger product than you need. If you're going out for an hour stroll
in the evening, you don't need a product that keeps mosquitoes away for 13 hours.
In addition, if two products give equivalent protection, choose the one with the
lower deet concentration.

Follow the application instructions on the product. Using more than the specified
amount wont give you extra protection.

Don't apply deet near eyes or mouth, or on broken skin. If using a spray, do not
spray your face directly or breathe in the spray mist. Spray the product on your
hands and then rub it on your face.

Do not apply deet under clothing. This can hasten its absorption by the skin.
Spray over your clothes, and be sure to wash them before wearing again to avoid
spreading the chemical. Deet generally doesn't harm cotton, nylon, or wool, but
it can damage some synthetics such as acetate, rayon, and spandex, along with plastic
eyeglasses and watch crystals.

When you come back inside, wash the repellent off your skin.

Take precautions with young children. Do not apply deet to infants under 2 months
of age. Do not let a young child apply or handle the product, and don't apply repellent
on a child's hands. If using a spray, spray your hands, then rub the repellent
on the child. The American Academy of Pediatrics currently says deet concentrations
of up to 30 percent are safe for adults and for children over the age of 2 months.