All-natural insect repellents -
Products containing DEET are used to repel mosquitoes and other biting pests, like ticks, by preventing the bugs from being able to sense human scent. DEET has been sold commercially since but was used by the United States Army as early as Currently, over products that contain this ingredient are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency EPA.
The EPA shares that DEET does not pose risks to health when used properly. In rare cases, though, there are some issues you may encounter when using it, including:.
Young children should not apply DEET products on their own or have it applied in or around the eyes or mouth. To treat mosquito bites at home, you can try rubbing apple cider vinegar at the site of the bite. Putting a slice of raw onion or freshly cut garlic on the bite can also provide relief and guard against infection.
Over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine creams, like calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream, can help as well. If you do develop an infection or allergic reaction due to a significant amount of mosquito bites, take note of your symptoms and contact your doctor.
Signs of a problem may include:. So, how exactly do you use various repellents to keep yourself bite-free? It depends. Also, take into account things like:. Applying and reapplying by the package directions will help make sure you get the most effective protection.
Mosquitoes can bite through tight-fitting clothing, like tights or yoga pants. To protect yourself, the CDC suggests choosing loose-fitting clothes that cover both the arms and legs for the most protection.
You can also treat the clothes you wear with permethrin or buy clothing that has already been treated with permethrin. Unlike DEET, permethrin is not intended for use on the skin, so be sure to follow all package instructions and treat only clothing, boots, socks, hats, and other wearable items.
Beyond wearing repellent, reapplying it when necessary, and choosing the right clothing, there are other things you can do to lower your risk of getting bitten by mosquitoes:.
Avoid being outdoors during peak mosquito times, between dusk and dawn. There is significant research suggesting that natural ingredients are an effective way to repel mosquitoes.
This is good news for people looking to avoid exposure to toxic chemicals, especially young children and pregnant people. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
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It can be hard to figure out how to prevent mosquito bites, but it doesn't have to be. From DEET and biopesticides, to treated fabric and yard…. If you love being outside in nature, ticks may be hard to avoid.
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A honey bee sting usually just causes temporary pain. If you think you may be allergic to insect stings, visit an allergist for a diagnosis.
Learn about the tests doctors use to diagnose insect sting…. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Dominique Fontaine, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, HWNC-BC — By Kareem Yasin and Ashley Marcin — Updated on February 8, Lemon eucalyptus oil Lavender Cinnamon oil Thyme oil Greek catmint oil Soybean oil Citronella Tea tree oil Geraniol Neem oil Essential oil risks DEET risks Treatment FAQs Summary.
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Was this helpful? What to look for in natural mosquito repellents. Lemon eucalyptus oil. Cinnamon oil. Thyme oil. Greek catmint oil. Soybean oil. Tea tree oil. Neem oil. Potential risks of essential oil mosquito repellent. DEET risks. Treating mosquito bites.
FAQs about mosquito repellents. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.
You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Feb 8, Written By Kareem Yasin, Ashley Marcin.
Feb 10, Medically Reviewed By Dominique Fontaine, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, HWNC-BC. Share this article. Read this next. Natural Tick Repellents and Other Active Ingredients. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT.
Learn more. About 2 out of 3 people surveyed by the market research firm Mintel in June said they preferred to use natural pest control and insect repellent products whenever possible.
But 66 percent of those surveyed said that the performance or reliability of a pest-control product or bug repellent was more important than the fact that it had natural ingredients. But repellents based on several other plant-based ingredients, including lemongrass oil, citronella oil, and soybean oil, typically end up at the very bottom of our ratings.
An EPA registration means that the product has been evaluated by federal regulators to ensure safety and effectiveness. And our years of testing have consistently found that certain insect repellent active ingredients provide long-lasting protection against bug bites, while others do not.
What is it? The names are very similar, but the two chemicals are quite different. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is an ingredient derived from a tree native to Australia known as lemon-scented gum among other names. The active component of oil of lemon eucalyptus—the one that repels the bugs—is called p-menthane-3,8-diol, or PMD.
OLE can be made by refining extracts of lemon-scented gum trees, and PMD can also be synthesized chemically. Lemon eucalyptus oil, the essential oil, is an input in the manufacturing of OLE in some cases and is distilled from the leaves and twigs of the lemon-scented gum tree.
Does it work? Is it safe? Both federal regulators and our experts agree that oil of lemon eucalyptus is safe when used as directed. But the research we do have suggests that any adverse reactions are limited to eye and skin irritation.
Deet and picaridin are both considered safe to use on children older than 2 months. But its chemical structure mimics that of a compound found in pepper plants. It has been available as an insect repellent in the U. since Some bug sprays containing 20 percent picaridin have done well in our tests, but its performance in other formats is less impressive.
A wipe version and two lotions made with that concentration scored poorly as did one wipe containing 10 percent picaridin. Picaridin may cause eye and skin irritation, but this is probably rare.
What are they? Some common ones are lemongrass, citronella, peppermint, geraniol, soybean, and rosemary. Do they work? Some plant oils have the ability to keep bugs away, research shows. So in that sense, they do work.
Our recommended repellents provide 5 or more hours of protection, while our lowest-rated ones, which include those with essential oils as active ingredients, provide just 2 hours or less of protection.
Are they safe? Yes and no. The chemicals in these products are unlikely to cause you any serious harm themselves, though they do contain known allergens, often at much higher concentrations than other natural products.
But by using an unregistered botanical repellent, you expose yourself to the risk of serious mosquito- and tick-borne diseases , some of which can be life-threatening. Bug bites are annoying, and they can also transmit diseases.
Insects belong outside of your All-naturl, not lAl-natural it! Sports-specific training exercises, how do All-natural insect repellents prevent their entry? First, take a look at your kitchen. Make sure all of your food is sealed up tight and put away properly. Leaving food out for a few days is an outright invitation for ants and other insects to move in and make themselves right at home. People use insect All-nqtural to keep harmful or annoying bugs rwpellents. Natural insect repellents do not unsect toxic chemicals, and some All-jatural indicates Sports-specific training exercises are effective. Insect repellents help keep irritating or disease-carrying insects away. They are an important resource, as the viruses and parasites that certain insects can carry are a global public health concern. According to the Environmental Protection Agency EPAthe definition of a pesticide includes:.
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