3 precautions for insect repellents.
Excerpt & notice
- Don’t overdose
- Precautions used with sunscreen
- Women and children apply carefully
- Other Precautions
- Which insect repellents are safe & effective?
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3 precautions for insect repellents are 1) don’t overdose, 2) precautions used with sunscreen and 3) Women and children apply carefully. Let’s look into insect repellent-related issues down below. Keep these 3 precautions in mind and have a great and healthy summer vacation!
As summer intensifies, the need for insect repellent is also escalating. Roughly 80% of insect repellent sales occur during summer alone, according to the industry resources. Besides as global warming is going on, more bug-related diseases spread out everywhere. You are getting more exposed to such a serious diseases and need more insect repellent than the past times.
Recently, there has been a rising risk of mosquito-borne diseases in Europe. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has reported that mosquitoes carrying viruses like dengue and chikungunya have moved into new areas of Europe, which increases the risk of illness. This results from more frequent heatwaves, flooding, and longer, warmer summers making favorable conditions for mosquitoes.
As a result, people are used to insect repellent. However, you should use them with precautions. Because some products made of certain ingredients can make problems, especially when applied with sunscreen.
Don’t overdose
First thing you should remember when you use an insect repellent is not to take too much. Some products can cause problems if overdosed. Adverse effects of overdose, are usually associated some products contain ‘DEET’. DEET is an abbreviation for N,N-Diethyl-Meta-Toluamide, an ingredient to prevent bites from insects such as mosquitoes, biting flies, fleas and small flying insects. It is a colorless liquid that has a faint odor and does not dissolve easily in water. DEET is strong, effective and largely safe material for bug repellent. But it can cause some problems when used too much, so precautions should be needed.
Minor symptoms of DEET adverse effects are eye irritation, breathing difficulty and skin reactions. However, in rare cases, repeated use of DEET in very high concentrations can lead to toxic encephalopathy with severe neurological symptoms including seizures, tremors and slurred speech. Most manufacturers advise that DEET bug repellents should not be used under clothing or on damaged skin.
Precaution used with sunscreen
Sunscreens enhance absorption of DEET
insect repellents and sunscreens are both safe and effective when used individually, but if combined, problems can take place. Certain sunscreen formulations decrease in their effect to screen out ultraviolet (UV) radiation when used with DEET (N,N-Diethyl-Meta-Toluamide), In some researches, the combination of DEET and sunscreens led to a more than 30 percent reduction in SPF. What’s more, sunscreens enhance absorption of DEET into the skin, potentially increasing toxicity — especially in children.
DEET substitutes
Yes, if you use only insect repellent without sunscreen, it is safe and effective. However, as mentioned above, roughly 80% of bug repellent sales occur during summer season. So, most people are likely to use sunscreen and bug repellent at the same time. That’s a problem. To avoid this risk, you’d better choose non-DEET products. There are some kinds of products containing non-DEET ingredients. Picaridin (Icaridin), IR3535, and Lemon Eucalyptus oil (p-Menthane-3,8-diol or PMD).
Advantage of Picaridin
Picaridin, also known as Icaridin, is an insect repellent which can be applied directly on skin or clothing. Picaridin-based insect repellents are widely used recently due to their low skin irritation and toxicity. Developed from plants related to pepper, they prevent insects from detecting human body odors. Picaridin is effective against various bugs such as flies, mosquitoes, ticks and fleas. Picaridin is very effective like DEET without some problems DEET can create. According to the WHO, “Picaridin demonstrates excellent repellent properties comparable to, and often superior to, those of the standard DEET.” And the material does not dissolve plastics and synthetics unlike DEET.
Special precaution when used with sunscreens
If you use an insect repellent containing DEET with sunscreens, precaution needed. Because sunscreens can increase DEET absorption, more DEET than guideline may cause some adverse effects such as skin irritation. It is recommended to apply the bug repellent possessing DEET 20~30 minutes after applying sunscreen. Remember that sunscreen first, insect repellent later.
Women and children apply carefully
Recent study about DEET effects on the reproductive process.
Recently, researchers at Harvard University have discovered evidence that DEET can affect egg formation and potentially cause reproductive issues. Monica P. Colaiacovo, a professor at Harvard Medical School, announced on the January 4 that she confirmed the effects of DEET on reproduction through experiments with C. elegans, a model organism commonly used to examine the impact of various chemicals on humans.
The experiment showed that C. elegans exposed to DEET for 24 hours produced abnormal eggs. The eggs clumped together or changed structure during the division process. The researchers confirmed that DEET altered the structure of the substances forming the chromosomes, causing the chromosomes not to separate properly during meiosis. The embryos of C. elegans affected by DEET were also abnormal, similar to the eggs. The researchers stated, ‘The level of DEET in C. elegans within the body was the same or even lower than the levels found in human blood or urine samples,’ and explained, ‘Depending on the degree of exposure and metabolic processes, it could be evidence that DEET may cause genetic disorders in humans such as miscarriage, stillbirth, infertility, or Down syndrome.’ For more information you can find at Harvard Medical School website.
Children should apply more carefully
Children should apply bug repellent contains DEET more carefully. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended that DEET not be used on children younger than 2 months old. The AAP has also recommended that DEET should be applied no more than one time per day for children older than two months, and that products should be used on children that have the lowest DEET concentration available. The AAP has cautioned parents not to use DEET on the hands of children and to avoid applying it to areas around children’s eyes and mouths.
Health Canada recommended that DEET-based products should be used on children between the ages of 2 and 12 only if the concentration of DEET is 10% or less and that repellents be applied no more than 3 times a day, children under 2 years should not receive more than 1 application of repellent in a day and DEET-based products of any concentration should not be used on infants under 6 months.
Other precautions
Do not spray excessively, and after returning home, it is advisable to clean the skin where the repellent was applied and wash the clothes. When spraying, maintain a distance of 10-20 cm and avoid inhalation when using on the face. Especially, do not use in enclosed spaces or near food and kitchen utensils. Do not spray or apply on areas with wounds or inflammation, or around mucous membranes or eyes.
Recommendation
Top pick: Sawyer spray
Insect repellent with 20% Picaridin
Non-greasy, Fragrance free, odorless
No damage plastics or synthetic coatings
Safe for use on the whole family
Mosquitoes: up to 12 hours
Flies, gnats: up to 8 hours
Top rated bug repellent by WireCutter/NY Times
Popular: Sawyer spray can
Insect repellent with 20% Picaridin
Non-greasy, Fragrance free, odorless
No damage plastics or synthetic coatings
Safe for use on the whole family
Mosquitoes: up to 14 hours
Flies, gnats: up to 8 hours
Top rated bug repellent by WireCutter/NY Times
