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Insect-repellent safetyInformation Return to top
The safest bug repellent is proper clothing. Wear a full-brimmed hat to protect your head and the back of your neck. Make sure your ankles and wrists are covered. Tuck pant cuffs into socks and wear light-colored clothing, which is less attractive than dark clothing to biting insects and also makes it easier to spot any ticks or insects that have landed. Wear lightweight gloves, particularly in the garden. Check clothes regularly for bugs. Use protective netting around sleeping and eating areas to keep the bugs at bay.
WIth that said, when visiting an area with a large insect population, bug repellent should be used. To avoid skin irritation, apply insect repellent to clothing. Test the repellent on a small area of clothing first to determine if it will bleach or otherwise discolor the fabric. If areas of your skin are exposed, you will need to apply the repellant there as well.
Whenever you are in mosquito, sand fly, or tick territory, chemical insect repellents are necessary. The best repellents contain the chemicals DEET, indalone, Rutgers 612 (2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol), or dimethylphthalate (DMP). DEET has become the most common and most popular. R-326 (di-n-propylisocinchomeronate) is useful against biting flies. Use chemical repellents sparingly. Avoid use directly on sunburned skin.
Despite their popularity, bath oil or skin stick provide only one hour of protection against bugs compared to products containing 25 percent DEET which last up to seven hours. If using both sunscreen and bug repellent, apply the sunscreen first and wait 30 minutes before applying the bug repellent.
To avoid toxicity from insect repellents:
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |