Saturday, May 13, 2006
Do you know: What percent DEET is needed in insect repellents to be effective?
E. All of the above
Answer is: E. All of the above
What is DEET? DEET is N,N-diethylmetatoluamide which was developed by the U.S. Army in 1946 for use by military personnel in insect-infested areas.
How does it work? It creates a vapor above the area of application as it evaporates which repels the insects.
Children should use the lowest dose effective which can be less than 10%, however, it may not stay on as long as the higher concentrations. See Bug Repellent Comparison.
DEET is not recommended for use in children less than 6 months old, and it should be considered for children up to 2 years old only if very high exposure to insects is expected. Avoid applying it to children's hands if they tend to put them in their mouths.
Adults may consider 30% concentration. Consumer Reports June 2006 concluded that 30% was needed for very good results.
Pregnant women should not use it.
Where is it applied? It should be applied to any exposed skin sparingly. Avoid using it around the eyes and mouth, and any open skin such as scratches and skins. Do not apply it under clothing. Wash your hands after applying it.
Alternative to DEET: Most experts agree that non-DEET containing repellents are not as effective. A panel in Consumer Reports June 2006 thought that Repel Plant Based Lemon Eucalyptus worked better than the other non-DEET products but they did not like its smell. This is also NOT recommended for use in children less than 3 years old.
For more information: see Insect Repellent Use and Safety.
References: Insect repellents: an overview, J Am Academy of Dermatology, 1997.
DEET-based insect repellents: safety implications, Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2003. Dr. J. D. MacLean, McGill University
Photo: courtesy of SoulTek.com/blog