Insect Repellent

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

I've never had much concern for what I spray on my body to repel insects, but this year I was diagnosed with cancer and let me tell you, that will definitely make you take a second look at the way you live your life. I was always a fan of DEET and have used it whenever the need was there. I'm thinking of changing and going with something a little more friendly. I'm not much of a believer in the EPA telling me what is and isn't good for me any longer. I thought I'd share this article and see what feedback comes up.

http://www.nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/1006.asp

 

[d1sc0ver]

I switched to Skin So Soft (not manly, but it works) and/or tying scented fabric softener sheets to my clothing.

 

[overlander]

I've never had much concern for what I spray on my body to repel insects, but this year I was diagnosed with cancer and let me tell you, that will definitely make you take a second look at the way you live your life. I was always a fan of DEET and have used it whenever the need was there. I'm thinking of changing and going with something a little more friendly. I'm not much of a believer in the EPA telling me what is and isn't good for me any longer. I thought I'd share this article and see what feedback comes up.

http://www.nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/1006.asp

The military states the most effective insect prevention is permethrin treatment of clothing and DEET on exposed surfaces of skin. With that in mind, if you have concerns of DEET, my wife and kids use Bullfrog "Mosquito Coast" which is a combo UV and bug protection. It seems to work reasonably well on mosquitoes, but definitely not effective as DEET, which I continue to use myself. Frequent usage of 30-50% DEET is probably better than excessive concentrations of DEET for longer periods, but that's me speculating.

I often hear of Avon Skin-So-Soft as being effective alternative, but I tried it once and I think it's an urban myth. It was uneffective for me.

My recommendation is for you to focus on dressing properly with coverage of most surfaces, and using a face net, to minimize the amount of chemical application required.

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Hoping it was caught early.

 

[AxeAngel]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Hoping it was caught early.

X2, let us know if/how we can help

-Sam

 

[Honu]

thanks for the link its good timing as we are trying to figure out whats safe for the kids

I am curious how these little fan things work ?


having lived in Honduras where the jungles eat you alive and catching dysentery and giardia and dengue fever are all fun things I have had
avon we used to joke that it works when put on thick ? since the bugs get in fall over and cant get up !


from Honduras where the squitos can eat you alive I know jungle juice works but its wicked on you and I dont want to put it on my kids ? we use some family type off thats suposed to work and be mellow but we try to avoid squito areas ?

if its really bad like jungles of Honduras bad clothing head to toe and %100 deet is the only thing
in the perimeter of the jungles deet on exposed areas worked OK OFF and such kinda worked but I would say %10 or more get to you ! avon SSS works about the same ?

 

[gasman]

mosquitoes and black flies,, omg i hate em,, try cleaning fish down by the lake about 9 pm , in june, you clap your hands once and kill 20 of the little buggers, i personally do not like spray of any kind and will use it only when i cant stand it anymore, i carry a full bug suit in my pack, and have put back more than a few beers thru a straw,

so avon skin so soft really works , but you need to start using it a week or 2 before you hit the bush, and my favourite method is to eat lots of garlic a week in advance, i must also say this is the wifes least favourite method,

the last week of june i was out near algonquin park ,didnt need my bug suit and i used absolutley no bug spray at all for the entire week, while my buddies used plenty,, mind you they did not want to sit in my canoe, and i was starting to feel kinda lonely,,

 

[Corey]

Last year on my trip I had the stuff with the permethrin in it and the Off battery fan thing.
They work great on skeeters, but the black flies ate me alive.

I have since bought 100% DEET REI Jungle Juice to use this year.
My legs still had the bit marks up to more than a week later after returning home.
They bit me everywhere I had exposed skin.
That picture was after I got home.
It was worse up in the mountains.

 

[rambrush]

Yep REI 100% deet is what we use up in Montana around the water. we will be taking some with to Africa as well and giving it a try there.

 

[CSG]

For the rare times I'm out in mosquito weather, I use 100% DEET. It just works.

Articles like the one linked are suspect IMO.

 

[Co-opski]

My personal use of deet is on clothing only and I try to keep it off of skin as much as possible. I find myself using clothing as a barrier to biting insects. In my travels into the bush having a good hat, long sleeve shirt/jacket with a hood, pants over shorts and I have no shame in wearing a bug net on my head if I’m out long enough. Most of the time I just put the hoody up and hit it with the deet and I’m fine in most buggy places. I know it is warmer/hotter in the lower 48 so wearing sweatshirts and pants in the summer may not be in everyone’s cards.


Get well Yukon, do what the doc says, and live healthy.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Articles like the one linked are suspect IMO.

Yeah. There's absolutely no evidence one way or the other. It's just another part of the "Chemicals are bad, all natural is good" movement. Well you know furocoumarin, is also naturally occuring, but I sure wouldn't intentionally put it on my skin!

I often hear of Avon Skin-So-Soft as being effective alternative, but I tried it once and I think it's an urban myth.

Agreed.

Jerry, sorry about the diagnosis, hopefully you caught it early enough. But it doens't mean you have to change everything about the way you live. My brother had cancer at 7, he hadn't been exposed to many chemicals at that point in his life. Sometimes it just happens.

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Thanks guys. And yes, it was caught early, and they say that they got it all in surgery.

I had planned to go cycle cross country beginning in March, but instead found myself in the hospital. Now 4 months later and I'm still healing. Chomping at the bits as I'm planning a trip to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador, and then head west, and then head south. Must heal !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :wings:

 

[gasman]

started doing a little research on this,, for those who may be worried about deet and stuff,

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/custom-made-insect-repellent.html


how bout this one if the bugs get too bad maybe you could drink it

Recipe courtesy of Laurel Vukovic.
August 2004
Herbs for Health

NATURAL INSECT REPELLANT


2 ounces vegetable oil or vodka
1/4 teaspoon each citronella and eucalyptus essential oils
1/8 teaspoon each cedar and rose geranium essential oils


Combine ingredients and apply mixture directly to all exposed skin. Keep oil away from your eyes and mouth, and be careful not to rub your eyes right away after applying the repellent with your fingers.


Source: Keville, Kathi. Herbs for Health and Healing. Rodale, 1996.
March/April 2004
Herbs for Health

 

[Lynn]

how bout this one if the bugs get too bad maybe you could drink it

According to Wikipedia, topical citronella has to be re-applied every 30 - 60 minutes to be effective as a repellant, and can cause dermatitis so shouldn't be used on children.

Personally, if I'm going to stink (I think citronella stinks), I'd rather eat garlic and not have to worry about constantly re-applying a topical. Assuming that garlic and citronella are equally effective, I suppose. Anyone want to do an A/B comparison?

ADDED: From this article:

Eucalyptus oil is a popular insect repellent, skin treatment and aromatherapy oil. Using eucalyptus oil wisely and with caution is important since it is a potent remedy that can produce sever side effects when used excessively or in combination with the wrong drugs.

AFIK there are no known health problems from garlic. I know that when he was young my dad enjoyed garlic sandwiches quite often, and the only side effect was that he risked remaining a bachelor... His new girlfriend (later my mom) made him stop eating them.

AND MORE ADDED: It seems most of the ingredients in the recipe have the potential to be skin irritants. Not something I would want in a topical that has to be re-applied frequently...

 

[Spur]

I'm not sure if DEET will kill you or not, but I try to avoid it. No sense in using it if I don't have to.

For light to moderate insect problems, I think Repel works great. You do have to reapply often, especially if you're sweating.

http://www.repel.com/ProductCategories/Insectrepellents/LemonEucalyptus/


When I was in areas where Malaria was endemic, I didn't mess around and used 3M Ultrathon. It mostly worked well. Some skeeters went right through it. Bottom line is that nothing 100%

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Ultrathon/Products/