Tips for the Safe Use of Insect Repellents

Topical insect repellents containing DEET are popular and have been shown to be effective against ticks and other insects.  It’s especially important to our researchers conducting field research because Maryland is one of 12 states where the majority of all Lyme disease cases occur.  Twenty to thirty percent of deer ticks in Maryland carry Lyme.  Using insect repellents can help prevent ticks from ever attaching to your skin to transmit the disease.

The concentration of DEET in a product reflects the period of time that it is expected to be effective.  Therefore, higher concentrations work longer.

Studies from the Environmental Protection Agency database concluded that DEET repels ticks for about two to 10 hours, and mosquitoes from two to 12 hours depending on the percentage of DEET in the product.

Several other repellents are registered with EPA, including picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, and 2-undecanone.

Are you unsure of which is right for you?  EPA has an online search tool that can help.

Always read and follow label directions for proper use of insect repellents and only use repellents on exposed skin and/or clothing.  Never apply to your skin under your clothing.

Here are some additional recommendations from the EPA:

• Don’t apply repellents near your eyes and mouth, and use only a little around your ears.
• Don’t spray directly into your face.  Instead, spray on your hands and apply to your face.
• Don’t use spray repellents on cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
• Don’t spray in enclosed areas, inhale spray, or spray near food.
• Don’t use the product near open flames if the label includes warnings about flammability.
• Don’t apply permethrin directly to your skin.

Once you’re back indoors, be sure to wash your skin and the clothes that you were wearing.