jed- google picaridin info. Open the first citation.

I saw that, but I was not impressed because it was its own website.

Can you cite more objectively "...WHO recommendations prefer picaridin over DEET" ?

Jed, Although it is a picaridin website it is objectively written and has links to those it cites.


The following is a WHO-Africa study:
[PDF] HLT/022 AAWWAARREENNEESSSS BBUULLLLEETTIINNBBUUL LLLEETTIINN ...
... Synthetic insect repellents, IR3535 and KBR 3023 (also known as picaridin, or by
the trade name Bayrepel ® ), were tested in Burkina Faso against mosquito ...
www.afro.who.int/library/infodigest/2004-09.pdf


From the CDC website:
Of the active ingredients registered with the EPA, CDC believes that two have demonstrated a higher degree of efficacy in the peer-reviewed, scientific literature (See Publications page.). Products containing these active ingredients typically provide longer-lasting protection than others:

• DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)
• Picaridin (KBR 3023)

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2007.10.005] — (English)
Arthropod bites remain a major cause of patient morbidity. These bites can cause local or systemic effects that may be infectious or inflammatory in nature. Arthropods, notably insects and arachnids, are vectors of potentially serious ailments including malaria, West Nile virus, dengue, and Lyme disease. Measures to curtail the impact of insect bites are important in the worldwide public health effort to safely protect patients and prevent the spread of disease. The history of insect repellent (IR) lends insight into some of the current scientific strategies behind newer products. Active ingredients of currently available IRs include N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET), botanicals, citronella, and, the newest agent, picaridin. Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency's registered IR ingredients approved for application to the skin include DEET, picaridin, MGK-326, MGK-264, IR3535, oil of citronella, and oil of lemon eucalyptus. DEET has reigned as the most efficacious and broadly used IR for the last 6 decades, with a strong safety record and excellent protection against ticks, mosquitoes, and other arthropods. Newer agents, like picaridin and natural products such as oil of lemon eucalyptus are becoming increasingly popular because of their low toxicity, comparable efficacy, and customer approval. Various characteristics and individual product advantages may lead physicians to recommend one agent over another...

Thanks. My reading of these suggests that picaridin and DEET may be equal. I suspect that further experience will differentiate between them.

I've used DEET and lived to tell about it. I wouldn't use the 100% variety however. I'm trying the Repel 30% DEET wipes this trip, which is down from the 40% stuff I used last time.

hopefulist -- Bird sized whaaaa!?!?!

Depending on the breed of mosquito, one may have an advantage over the other. However, what makes Picaridin superior when the ability to repel is equal is that it is nearly odorless and does not irritate skin nor does it melt plastics or harm certain fabrics. It is fairly pleasant to use. Try some and you will see what I mean.

topping for lek523

AVON "skin so soft" bath oil works well for mosquitos and sand flies,{no-seeums}. non toxic. we have used this product in florida,bahamas and central america

We've tried both the Skin-So-Soft bath oil and the bug product with no luck at all. Smells nice, though!

I have read that taking Vitamin B1 for 2 weeks before entering the mosquito infested area seems to repel mosquitos. Has any one tried that?

Yep - tried it and it didn't help and neither did garlic supplements. We continued to follow the regimen while we were in Belize. The joke in our family is it worked the first half of the trip (when we were in the Cayo and there weren't any mozzies) and didn't work during the middle part when we were in the Cockscomb and Sittee River Village areas where the mozzies were plentiful, large, and aggressive. In other words, it didn't work.

I've been using Picaridin based Cutters Advanced for about a year and a half now. It works quite well, but needs to be re-applied about 4 times as often as DEET. If the mossies are bad this can be as frequently as every 15 minutes which is why I always carry a little bottle of 95% DEET as well.

Prior to our first trip to Borneo we went to the John Hopkins Hospital (a trip from BJ to Baltimore) especially because they have a "Center of Excellence" in iImmunology and saw 2 of the more prominent doctors in the department. This was for a battery of shots and we discussed survival from leeches, mosquitos, snake bites, etc. As for DEET we were told that 100% is perfectly safe to apply twice a day and they advided a long shower with strong soap without moisturizers each dasy. They went on to say as will any lotion certain people, but a minute percenrtage, may have an adverse reaction even to vasoline.
He advised us not to use 100% DEET for more than 3-4 weeks,
Based on the above comments from the CDC they agree.