Insect Repellent
Insect repellents are products that help block the human
odors, chemicals, and moisture that mosquitoes and other insects
are attracted to.
There are a variety of insect and mosquito repellents on
the market to help you enjoy the outdoors without being bothered
by buzzing pests.
The following is a list of the most popular mosquito repellents,
all varying in effectiveness. Read through them to decide
which one would be best for you. If you want more information
or would like to order insect repellent, visit Travel
Health Help.
 DEET
DEET (N-diethyl
meta-toluamide) is the most effective insect repellent, and
is used in a variety of repellents on the market. It works
well in keeping mosquitoes, ticks, and other bugs away by
disrupting the ability of biting insects to detect the source
of carbon dioxide (the gas emitted by humans.) Therefore,
the insects are unable to locate their prey. DEET is applied
to the skin and offers hours of protection, and is relatively
safe for use by any age group. Click here
for more information on the product.
Permethrin
Permethrin is an insect repellent that repels and kills ticks,
mosquitoes, and many other insects when applied to clothing,
tents, or mosquito nets. It is not meant for use on skin.
Permethrin is odorless after drying. If applied according
to instructions, this repellent can keep insects away for
several weeks.
Natural Repellents
There are natural products that will effectively repel mosquitoes,
but they require more frequent reapplication (at least every
2 hours.) They should also be applied in higher concentrations
than DEET. These natural repellents are plant oils, and vary
in effectiveness for different people:
- Citronella Oil
- Castor Oil
- Rosemary Oil
- Lemongrass Oil
- Cedar Oil
- Peppermint Oil
- Clove Oil
- Geranium Oil
Incense Coils
Incense coils are lit and placed outdoors to keep mosquitoes
away. The smoke emitted by the coils is poisonous to mosquitoes,
and so if a mosquito approaches, they are killed by the scent
of the incense. The main in ingredient of the incense is chrysanthemum,
and it is not poisonous for humans and animals.
There are some factors that decrease the effectiveness
of insect repellents.
- Wearing too much sunscreen may block repellent.
- Dilution of repellent from rain, perspiration, or swimming.
- Absorption of repellent into skin.
- Evaporation of repellent from wind or high temperatures.
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