Special substances called insect repellents can protect from the potential danger. Such repellents can have both natural and synthetic origin. They are recognized as safe for human health, but should be used with special care. Every kind of repellents has its own pros and cons, so learning more about them is a must before making a choice.
Natural Repellents
These are repellents containing essential oils and extracts. Although they are the least likely to cause side effects, they should be used with caution. Essential oils have a quick and profound effect on the brain and the whole nervous system. Applied onto the skin in undiluted form, they can cause severe burns. Before using such repellents, it is advisable to carry out a sensitivity test, placing a small drop of the substance on the inside of the forearm. If there is no irritation within 15-20 minutes, such repellent can be applied.
Synthetic Repellents
This kind includes repellents containing chemical substances. The most widely used are DETA (diethyltoluamide) and IR3535 (ethyl butyl acetyl amine propionate). The last one is the least toxic of all synthetic repellents, and it can be used even for one-year-old children. It is not inferior in efficiency to the popular DETA repellents and it is three times less toxic.
Synthetic repellents can be of the following kinds:
- Creams and gels (can be applied to skin by soft movements, but not rubbed in);
- Aerosols (can be sprayed over clothes and skin. But eyes and mouth should be protected while spraying);
- Electric fumigators (special devices having either special plates or liquid inside which can release the active substances when heated; such substances repel insects for several hours);
- Smoke devices which repel insects with its smoke during burning.
All kinds of insect repellents keep active for several hours. They should be used exactly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This way they won’t cause any harm and will give proper protection from insects.
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