A recent review of insect repellents by the Medical Letter 5/26/03
suggested the following:
DEET repels chiggers, ticks, fleas, and biting flies
DEET < 20% gives protection for 1-3 hours
DEET in higher concentrations may last up to 12 hours, the most reliable
formulation may be EDTIAR or Ultrathon
Citronella based repellants protect against mosquitoes for up to an hour
and probably don't protect against ticks
An eucalyptus-oil repellent may protect against mosquitoes for up to 4
hours
Skin-so-soft Bug guard gave about 23 min protection against mosquitoes
Soy oil Bite Blocker gave about 95 min protection
A new product, picaridin, seems as effective as DEET without the
damaging effects on plastics and synthetic materials. It is to be
released in the US soon.
Permethrin is an insecticide used to treat clothing, sleeping bags, ect
and protects against mosquitoes and ticks.
I've got no financial interest in any of these products, just thought
you might like to hear what these very conservative and objective folks
had to say in their review of products available.
I'm looking forward to trying the picaridin. They say it is already out
in Europe and Australia - any input from those of you that have tried
it? Goes by name of Autan Repel and other products.
Kevin Colver
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