Insect Repellants

by Alaska Medical Clinics, LLC

With 37 varieties of mosquitoes in our state, Alaskans certainly know what a mosquito is. But many of us disagree on how to “repel” them. Here are a few tips that might help you enjoy the outdoors a bit more:

Avoid Exposure

1. No, you don’t have to hide, but perhaps avoid outdoor activities in early mornings and early evenings.
2. Repair and fasten all screens on doors and windows.
3. Dress with long-sleeved pants and shirts; wear a hat.
4. Use mosquito netting over strollers and paypens when infants are outdoors.
5. Prevent mosquito breeding by eliminating standing water (e.g., buckets, wading pools, wheelbarrows, tires, ditches, gutters).

Understand the different types of repellents and their uses.

There are many choices and opinions on risks, but here are some tips to help you make a decision on what to use, if any:

1. DEET seems to be the most common and effective, but it can be absorbed through the skin and in rare cases cause acute illness. Don’t use a repellent with DEET concentrations above 10-15% for children and 30-35% for adults.

2. Citronella, an extract from a lemon-scened grass, is used for various products, such as candles. They are said to provide “moderate protection.”

3. Permethrin products should be used on outer clothing only. Permethrin is a pesticide and should not contact skin, which it can penetrate.

4. The EPA has cancelled the registration of products containing 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol and “R-11,” so check old labels and discard such products.

5. Other tips: Don’t use repellents on infants. Be careful to keep repellents out of reach of all children. Do not use repellents under clothing.

Information from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.