DEET
Apr 19th, 2006, 04:41 AM
#1
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DEET
Have been reading up and did a search here too.
I understand that the only mosquito repellent recommended as 100% effective is DEET. But...no where do I see what percentage of DEET is the best.
Can anyone help?
Also on another thread that came up in the search someone mentioned that Picaridin (oil of lemon eucalyptus) is as effective as DEET.
Any more info on that?
Thanks!
I understand that the only mosquito repellent recommended as 100% effective is DEET. But...no where do I see what percentage of DEET is the best.
Can anyone help?
Also on another thread that came up in the search someone mentioned that Picaridin (oil of lemon eucalyptus) is as effective as DEET.
Any more info on that?
Thanks!
Apr 19th, 2006, 08:03 AM
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The most effective are the ones that are close to 100% DEET (many of them will have about 95%). But, they also tend to be a bit smelly and unpleasant. I found a cream repellent on magellans.com that was designed by the US army and seems to work really well. As far as other things to use, to the best of my knowledge when people like Consumer Reports have tested them, the only one that really proves effective is DEET. Here is the link for the cream repellent:
http://www.magellans.com/store/Healt...ionSC115?Args=
http://www.magellans.com/store/Healt...ionSC115?Args=
Apr 19th, 2006, 12:04 PM
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At 100% you'll smell like a chemical plant. Generally, repellents should have at minimum 30-35% Deet, which works for most people. Deet does nothing for Tsetse flies... they just bit and they hurt. Mossies will stay away with even a small amount of Deet. Except for our time on hot and humid Zanzibar, we've never been bothered by mossies on safari. Whatever, you choose, however, do not put it on your face, near your eyes and be sure to wash off before going to bed. Sleep under mossie nets, if provided. If not provided, the rooms (in lodges) are pretty secure; you can always choose to spray the room before going to dinner. But, please don't overdo the spraying as it'll wind up on all surfaces, including your bedding.
Apr 19th, 2006, 12:21 PM
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Sawyer Co. makes an insect repellent called "Broad Spectrum" that is about 24% DEET and also has R-326, which they say is a special fly repellent. I used their earlier version of this product in Zambia and had no Tsetse fly bites, even though fellow travelers did.
Apr 19th, 2006, 12:31 PM
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I always use 50% strength DEET repellent and even at that strength I can FEEL the chemical strength of it - it's STRONG stuff. And the instructions not to spray/ apply it to plastic or various other materials (because it will do bad things to them) kind of makes me wonder what it does to my skin.
But having had a severe reaction to a mosquito bite as a kid (which had to be operated on - I still have the scar) I'm kind of keen not to get bitten.
That said, I was in India recently and spent one night in this former palace that had recently been converted to a hotel. The place seemed to be a global mosquito HQ - there were millions of the little beasts. They didn't have AC or mosquito nets for the beds. Even with an incredibly strong fan blowing gale force next to my bed and DEET all over I got 30-40 bites that night, most on my face, hands and feet.
Uuugh!
I don't think there is ANY repellent (even DEET at 100%) that is 100% effective.
Citronella is another more natural repellent - it smells gorgeous too. I wouldn't use it on it's own but perhaps combine it with the DEET.
If you have a small portable room burner you could take a pack of tea lights and some citronella oil and burn it in your room at night?
But having had a severe reaction to a mosquito bite as a kid (which had to be operated on - I still have the scar) I'm kind of keen not to get bitten.
That said, I was in India recently and spent one night in this former palace that had recently been converted to a hotel. The place seemed to be a global mosquito HQ - there were millions of the little beasts. They didn't have AC or mosquito nets for the beds. Even with an incredibly strong fan blowing gale force next to my bed and DEET all over I got 30-40 bites that night, most on my face, hands and feet.
Uuugh!
I don't think there is ANY repellent (even DEET at 100%) that is 100% effective.
Citronella is another more natural repellent - it smells gorgeous too. I wouldn't use it on it's own but perhaps combine it with the DEET.
If you have a small portable room burner you could take a pack of tea lights and some citronella oil and burn it in your room at night?
Apr 19th, 2006, 01:09 PM
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I'd say upwards OF 35% (not under it) and up to 50%.
Look for 35% to 50% strength.
And if you can buy from a store that lets you try some on your skin before you buy - some people react quite badly to it as it's a strong chemical.
Look for 35% to 50% strength.
And if you can buy from a store that lets you try some on your skin before you buy - some people react quite badly to it as it's a strong chemical.
Apr 20th, 2006, 03:24 AM
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I read on multiple webpages, and have got the same facts from different doctors: "30% DEET is enough. There is no proof that products with more than 30% of DEET repel insects any better than a product with 30%."
Apr 20th, 2006, 03:53 AM
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Africanow - you certainly can - but my advice would be to try and test a 50% strength one on your skin - if you don't have any adverse reaction to it you may as well go for the 50% incase it does indeed give a slightly better protection.
These things are hard to measure, to be honest.
Main thing to remember - whatever strength you go for will NOT completely protect you from bites so make sure you cover up as much as possible, perhaps also use citronella or anti-insect coils in the room if there are a lot of mosquitos present, a mosquito net too (again only if there seem to be mossies present in the room) and make sure you take your anti-malarial medication religiously.
These things are hard to measure, to be honest.
Main thing to remember - whatever strength you go for will NOT completely protect you from bites so make sure you cover up as much as possible, perhaps also use citronella or anti-insect coils in the room if there are a lot of mosquitos present, a mosquito net too (again only if there seem to be mossies present in the room) and make sure you take your anti-malarial medication religiously.
Apr 20th, 2006, 04:54 AM
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Thanks again Kavey. I'm going on a camping safari, not staying in lodges so it is important.
Long sleeves, pants yes. Citronella in addition to the DEET is a sound idea - at least on me and my clothing.
I am assured that the tents which are provided by the safari are mosquito proof with fine nets on doors and windows. I may add the citronella anti-insect coils too, just to feel safer.
Yes, got my prescription for Melarone today
All of your advice, and that of all others is much appreciated. Thanks!
Long sleeves, pants yes. Citronella in addition to the DEET is a sound idea - at least on me and my clothing.
I am assured that the tents which are provided by the safari are mosquito proof with fine nets on doors and windows. I may add the citronella anti-insect coils too, just to feel safer.
Yes, got my prescription for Melarone today
All of your advice, and that of all others is much appreciated. Thanks!
Apr 20th, 2006, 05:46 AM
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Africnow,
The point I'm trying to make is; a lot of stores promote products with more than 30% DEET as being more effective. And you can guess it; these products cost more of course.
But there's no need to spend more money. The repellent does not become more effective once you go higher than about 30%. The only thing you really get is a downside; the smell.
The point I'm trying to make is; a lot of stores promote products with more than 30% DEET as being more effective. And you can guess it; these products cost more of course.
But there's no need to spend more money. The repellent does not become more effective once you go higher than about 30%. The only thing you really get is a downside; the smell.
Apr 20th, 2006, 06:16 AM
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Pixelpower, do you know of anywhere I can find more information on this as I'd be happy to use lower strength DEET if I could be confident it would work as well - as I said it's a strong chemical and I find it sometimes irritates my skin.
The only advice I've seen is that stronger than 50% shouldn't be used directly on the skin BUT that it can be applied directly to clothing. I've also read that stronger versions don't work better than weaker ones at the time of application (they work similarly well) but that they do last longer.
This is one of the articles I found on it - http://lancaster.unl.edu/enviro/pest...nsectRepel.htm - but I'd welcome more information.
I've also read that the most effective DEET repellent is 70% strength in ethanol - a repellent created for military use by the US Army. One of the messages I found on the net talking about this also said that 50% versions in ethanol with musk added were longer lasting than those without musk because musk, used in the perfume industry, makes the application persist on the skin for longer.
But I don't know how true any of these claims are and, unlike many medical areas, I can't seem to find results of any real comparison studies.
Any pointers appreciated...
The only advice I've seen is that stronger than 50% shouldn't be used directly on the skin BUT that it can be applied directly to clothing. I've also read that stronger versions don't work better than weaker ones at the time of application (they work similarly well) but that they do last longer.
This is one of the articles I found on it - http://lancaster.unl.edu/enviro/pest...nsectRepel.htm - but I'd welcome more information.
I've also read that the most effective DEET repellent is 70% strength in ethanol - a repellent created for military use by the US Army. One of the messages I found on the net talking about this also said that 50% versions in ethanol with musk added were longer lasting than those without musk because musk, used in the perfume industry, makes the application persist on the skin for longer.
But I don't know how true any of these claims are and, unlike many medical areas, I can't seem to find results of any real comparison studies.
Any pointers appreciated...
Apr 20th, 2006, 07:03 AM
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LOL LOL Great article Kavey.
Repel the mosquitoes and attract the lions, cheetahs servals, leopards, etc.
Quote:
Catnip. Researchers at Iowa State University have found that nepetalactone, an essential aromatic oil in catnip, is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET — the compound used in most commercial insect repellents. A patent application for the use of catnip compounds as insect repellents was submitted last year by the Iowa State University Research Foundation. Don’t expect this to be commercially available anytime soon, as it has yet to be analyzed by the US-EPA or tested by human subjects.
Repel the mosquitoes and attract the lions, cheetahs servals, leopards, etc.
Quote:
Catnip. Researchers at Iowa State University have found that nepetalactone, an essential aromatic oil in catnip, is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET — the compound used in most commercial insect repellents. A patent application for the use of catnip compounds as insect repellents was submitted last year by the Iowa State University Research Foundation. Don’t expect this to be commercially available anytime soon, as it has yet to be analyzed by the US-EPA or tested by human subjects.
Apr 20th, 2006, 07:21 AM
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Yeah I did wonder whether I should just douse myself in catnip and attract those big cats even more but to be honest... all I need to do to find the big cats is request a toilet stop - as soon as I need to find that special termite mound or bush out comes the big cat!!!
Apr 21st, 2006, 03:21 AM
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Kavey,
I read the "no use in more than 30% DEET" line about everywhere on divers fora out there. Cannot point to examples though.
But the thing is; there's 6 safari-shooters in our party, and we all went to a different doctor (well except for me & my wife as we are a couple) for advice and the necessary shots.
...and we all got the same advice from all these doctors. Seems they all open a medical book, and know immediately are able to tell you all you need to know, including the DEET-info.
I read the "no use in more than 30% DEET" line about everywhere on divers fora out there. Cannot point to examples though.
But the thing is; there's 6 safari-shooters in our party, and we all went to a different doctor (well except for me & my wife as we are a couple) for advice and the necessary shots.
...and we all got the same advice from all these doctors. Seems they all open a medical book, and know immediately are able to tell you all you need to know, including the DEET-info.
