Are there any effective mosquito repellents?
Products containing DEET have proven to be very effective repellents, but DEET has a strong odor, can cause skin irritation and can damage plastics and other synthetics. Picardin is an EPA registered insect repellent that has been shown to be a safe and effective repellent when used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is also an EPA registered insect repellent that has been shown to provide a level of protection against mosquitos found in the US similar to repellents containing low concentrations of DEET. Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years of age. Another EPA registered repellent (and insecticide) is permethrin, which is recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear. Before using any repellent, visit the following web sites for additional information.
