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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Protection from insect bites is best achieved through the use of personal protection and habitat control. Personal protection involves avoiding infested habitats, wearing protective clothing and applying insect repellents. DEET is the most versatile and effective insect repellent in use today and has been since 1957. It repels mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, biting flies and chiggers. Although these are a source of nuisance in the United States, worldwide they transmit to humans numerous diseases including malaria which causes 3 million deaths per year. The emergence of West Nile Virus recently brought to the forefront the importance of mosquitoes in everyday life. The stimuli that attract mosquitoes are complex, but mostly are caused by host skin odors and carbon dioxide from the breath. There is significant variability in the attractiveness of different individuals – men, adults, overweight individuals and those who excessively sweat are more likely to attract mosquitoes. Once a mosquito gets close to a host, DEET “jams” the insect’s sensors and confuses the insect so it is unable to land and bite the host successfully. DEET is sold in concentrations from 5% to 100% and as a general rule, the higher concentrations of DEET provide longer lasting protection. Products with 10% to 35% DEET provide adequate protection under most conditions.
The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends on children products containing no more than 10% DEET and that it is acceptable to apply low concentrations of DEET to children over 2 months of age. There have been no reported adverse events in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Most recommendations recommend not using products that contain both DEET and a sunscreen in combination as the repellent may reduce the effectiveness of the sunscreen and in general, DEET does not need to be reapplied as frequently as sunscreen. Guidelines for safe and effective use of insect repellents include using a product with no more than 35% DEET, applying to exposed skin and clothing (never under clothes), applying a thin layer to face with hands only (never spraying) and washing off treated areas once inside with soap and water. Toxicity from DEET, including slurred speech, confusion and seizures, is very infrequent and occurred in individuals with long-term, excessive or improper use of DEET.
Avon’s Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil has only a mild repellent effect and Avon makes no claims about it being effective. They currently manufacture Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard Plus that shows better effectiveness than most botanical based repellents but does not match overall efficacy of DEET. Literally thousands of plants have been tested as sources of insect repellents, with Citronella being the most commonly found active ingredient in natural or herbal products. In general, Citronella is less effective than DEET and requires repeat applications at 1 hour intervals . Citronella candles have very limited effectiveness and Citronella scented plants have proven ineffective. A derivative of the eucalyptus plant has been popular in China for years and in some studies shows significantly more effectiveness than Citronella. This awaits EPA approval in the United States. Permethrin sprays applied directly to clothing and other fabrics (never to skin) in combination with DEET based repellents provides a formidable barrier against insects in harsh environments. The search for the “perfect” topical repellent continues as no repellent is 100% safe and all must be used carefully.
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