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Q. Why should I use insect repellent?
Q. What are some general considerations to remember when using insect repellents?
Q. What are some reactions to be aware of when using insect repellents?
Q. How often should repellent be reapplied?
Q. Which mosquito repellents work best?
Q. How does the amount of DEET in an insect repellent relate to how well and for how long the insect repellent will work for me?
Q. Why does CDC recommend certain types of insect repellent?
Q. How can you know which active ingredient a product contains?
Q. What is permethrin?
Q. Where can I find these repellents?
Q. What guidelines are available for using a repellent on children?
Q. How else can I protect children from mosquito bites?
Q. Can insect repellents be used by pregnant or nursing women?
Q1. Why should I use insect repellent?
A. Insect repellents can help reduce exposure to mosquito bites that may carry viruses such as West Nile virus, which can cause serious illness and even death. Using insect repellent allows you to continue to play and work outdoors with a reduced risk of mosquito bites.
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Q2. What are some general considerations to remember when using insect repellents?
A. Always follow the recommendations appearing on the product label.
• Use enough repellent to cover exposed skin or clothing. Don't apply repellent to skin that is under clothing. Heavy application is not necessary to achieve protection.
• Do not apply repellent to cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.
• Do not spray aerosol or pump products in enclosed areas.
• Do not spray aerosol or pump products directly to your face. Spray your hands and then rub them carefully over the face, avoiding eyes and mouth.
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Q3. What are some reactions to be aware of when using insect repellents?
A. Use of repellents products may cause skin reactions in rare cases. Most products also note that eye irritation can occur if product gets in the eye. If you suspect a reaction to a product, discontinue use, wash the treated skin, and call a poison control center. If product gets in the eyes flush with water and consult health care provider or poison control center. If you go to a doctor, take the product with you.
There is a national number to reach a Poison Control Center near you: 1-800-222-1222.
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Q4. How often should repellent be reapplied?
A. In general you should re-apply repellent if mosquitoes are biting you. Always follow the directions on the product you are using. Sweating, perspiration or getting wet may mean that you need to re-apply repellent more frequently.
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Q5. Which mosquito repellents work best?
A. CDC recommends using products that have been shown to work in scientific trials and that contain active ingredients which have been registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as insect repellents on skin or clothing. When the EPA registers a repellent, they evaluate the product for efficacy and potential effects on human beings and the environment. EPA registration means that EPA does not expect a product, when used according to the instructions on the label, to cause unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment.
Of the active ingredients registered with the EPA, the CDC believes that two have demonstrated a higher degree of effectiveness. Products containing these active ingredients typically provide longer-lasting protection than others:
• DEET
• Picaridin
Oil of lemon eucalyptus, a plant- based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET.
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Q6. How does the amount of DEET in an insect repellent relate to how well and for how long the insect repellent will work for me?
A. Typically, the more DEET a product contains the longer it provides protection from mosquito bites.
DEET is an effective active ingredient found in many repellent products in a variety of concentrations:
• A product containing 23.8% DEET provides average of 5 hours of protection from mosquito bites.
• A product containing 20% DEET provides almost 4 hours of protection
• A product with 6.65% DEET provides almost 2 hours of protection
• Products with 4.75% DEET are both able to provide roughly an hour and a half of protection.
Mainers should select the lowest concentration effective for the amount of time spent outdoors. A product with a higher percentage of DEET is a good choice if you will be outdoors for several hours while a product with a lower concentration can be used if time outdoors will be limited. Mainers should also simply re-apply repellent (following label instructions) if they are outdoors for a longer time than expected and start to be bitten by mosquitoes.
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Q7. Why does CDC recommend certain types of insect repellent?
A. CDC recommends products containing active ingredients which have been registered with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as insect repellents on skin or clothing.
All of the EPA-registered active ingredients have demonstrated repellency however some provide longer lasting protection than others. Additional research reviewed by the CDC suggests that repellents containing DEET or picaridin typically provide longer-lasting protection than the other products and oil of lemon eucalyptus provides longer lasting protection than other plant-based repellents. Permethrin is another long-lasting repellent that is intended for application to clothing and gear, but not directly to skin. In general, the more active ingredient (higher concentration) a repellent contains, the longer time it protects against mosquito bites.
People who are concerned about using repellents may wish to consult their health care provider for advice. The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) can also provide information through a toll-free number, 1-800-858-7378 or npic.orst.edu
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Q8. How can you know which active ingredient a product contains?
A . Check the product label if you have questions-–repellents must specify their active ingredients. In some cases you will note the chemical name in addition to/instead of the “common” name:
• DEET is N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide
• Picaridin is KBR 3023, sometimes known as “Bayrepel” outside the US
• The active ingredient in oil of lemon eucalyptus is p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)
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Q9. What is permethrin?
A. Products that contain permethrin are recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear, and are registered with EPA for this use. Permethrin is highly effective as an insecticide and as a repellent. Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills ticks, mosquitoes, and other arthropods and retains this effect after repeated laundering. The permethrin insecticide should be reapplied following the label instructions. Some commercial products are available pretreated with permethrin.
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Q10. Where can I find these repellents?
A. Most of these repellents are sold at multiple retail, discount and drug stores. A wider selection may be available at “outdoor” stores or in hunting and camping sections. At this time picaridin is not yet registered with the state pesticide programs in NY and CA, and thus is not available in those areas.
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Q11. What guidelines are available for using a repellent on children?
A. Always follow the recommendations appearing on the product label when using repellent:
• When using repellent on a child, apply it to your own hands and then rub them on your child. Avoid children's eyes and mouth and use it sparingly around their ears.
• Do not apply repellent to children's hands. (Children may tend to put their hands in their mouths.)
• Do not allow young children to apply insect repellent to themselves; have an adult do it for them.
• Keep repellents out of reach of children.
• Do not apply repellent under clothing. If repellent is applied to clothing, wash treated clothing before wearing again. (May vary by product, check label for specific instructions.)
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Q12. How else can I protect children from mosquito bites?
A. Using repellents on the skin is not the only way to avoid mosquito bites. Children (and adults) can wear clothing with long pants and long sleeves while outdoors. DEET or other repellents such as permethrin can also be applied to clothing (but is not registered for use on skin), as mosquitoes may bite through thin fabric.
Mosquito netting can be used over infant carriers.
It also may be possible to reduce the number of mosquitoes in the area by getting rid of containers with standing water that provide breeding places for mosquitoes.
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Q13. Can insect repellents be used by pregnant or nursing women?
A. Other than the routine precautions noted earlier, the EPA does not recommend any additional precautions for using registered repellents on pregnant or lactating women. Consult your health care provider if you have questions.
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