Mosquito repellent (DEET vs Picaridin) - 2010 topic
 

Hi,

I've just spent most of the day reading on DEET and Picaridin (two most effective substances against mosquito bites) and since this topic have not been brought up since '08, I wanted to share what I found and see what others had to say on the subject.

One of the most interesting sites I've found was: http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect/index.cfm (it lists all of the Insect Repellents) - notice the View All Results on the bottom.

According to the site, products with Controlled Release can protect you for much longer periods of time at lower chemical doses. For example, 20% controlled release DEET lasts 11 hours, whereas 98.3% DEET (max available) in OFF only lasts 10 hours.
Note: Picaridin max is 20%

Just so there is no misconception, they are both chemicals.
In both cases, strength of chemical does not increase strength of protection, just duration. (based on CDC)

Deet Pro: Lasts longer - up to 11 hours vs Picaridin max of 8 hours.
Picaridin Pro: Less irritation, easier to apply to face w/o causing eye itching.
Deet Pro: Time proven (1946) where as Picaridin is a incumbent (1990, on sale in 01).
Picaridin Pro: Odorless, where as Deet had an odor unpleasant to some.
Picaridin Pro: Will not melt plastic at higher concentrations.
Picaridin Pro: Provides protection against tics at lower concentration. Deet doesnt start offering tic protection until 25%.

Interesting links:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/west...entUpdates.htm
http://amcequipped.blogspot.com/2009...of-buzzer.html

Point of interest: Seems that US and Australian Army use 35% DEET
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m.../ai_113650073/

Another topic of my concern was availability overseas:

In my case I am in Japan, and max DEET available is 12% & Picaridin is not sold at all.
Solutions: International shipping with Amazon.com (route I am taking) or Ebay.

I forgot to mention, it's advised NOT to use sunscreen + bug repellent in one.

Nice summary!

Great summary (and I do malaria/insect counseling for a living!) Just be sure to use the repellant both morning (for Dengue Fever protection, as those moisquitos are daytime biters) and evening (malaria mosquitos).

It's OK to use combination repellant + sunscreen in the morning and evening, but you don't want to use the combo product all day long...you'll get more DEET than needed. If you take the combo product AND a plain sunscreen with you, then you haven't saved on the number of containers you need to pack...simpler to take plain repellant and separate suncreen and use each as needed.

Does anyone know how effective, if at all, those clip-on repellant things are? I am traveling to India in August and I am a total mosquito magnet. I hate putting all of that chemical on my body, though, especially to sleep, so was just curious if those things work since they say 12 hour head-to-toe protection.

I got one recently; each repellant insert lasts up to 12 hrs or two weeks, whichever comes first. I first tried putting it on a low table next to my deck chair; it worked pretty well.

Then I tried using it while weeding my garden, hanging it from the left side of my waistband. After two bites on my right leg, I switched the repellant/fan to the right side...and was immediately bitten on the other leg! So it works fairly well, but it won't be the cure-all you might have hoped for.

Been using Picaridin (19.2%) while my wife was using Deet from Japan (15%).

I have substantially less bites than her, so as far as I'm concerned Picaridin is a clear winner for me. One negative is I think it may have contributed to some paint rubbing off my sunglasses, but the plastic didnt melt the way it does with Deet.

I tried the clip-on gizmo at an open air concert recently. I am an absolute bug-magnet, and got bitten twice before I got the gizmo set up. After that no bites, but after a while my eyes started complaining. I gave up on repellents after I discovered that the one I was using ate plastic - I've found that when I'm taking Malarone I'm much less attractive to insects.

The picaridin repellent is so much more pleasant that I actually use it as directed. No smell, no greasy feeling, no itchiness. and no worry about it damaging plastic edging on raincoats purses or backpacks.

Cutter Advanced was the original Picaridin brand I tried. I've never seen it in individually wrapped toilettes, but they do have wipes in a 'baby-wipe' type container. Reviews complain the wipes dry out very fast.

The pump bottle was too big to make it in my carry on, so I transferred it to two smaller pump bottles and stored them in double zip lock bags with a handkerchief to absorb any spills. Lucky, cus they did have a slow leak, and I ended up using the handkerchief as a "wipe

Finally, I found Natrapel Picaridin wipes. I prefer these individually wrapped style as you can put one or two in your pocket each day and not worry about spills in you luggage. REI carries them and has them online. I just ordered two boxes of 12 wipes at $6.99 per box. You can pretty much wipe three people with one wipe.

Just the other day, I saw that Cutter has "Skinsations" with Picaridin in a very small size (carry on legal?) aerosal. It was at Longs Drugs, part of the CVS chain.

i met a woman who contracted Dengue fever and was hospitalized for about 4 months. After hearing her story, I'd skip the anti-malarials before I quit repellent!