Insect Repellents: What is Deet?

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Roaming Fox Travel Accessories :: Insect Repellents: What is Deet?

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Insect Repellents: What is Deet?	Last Updated: Saturday, September 04 2010
By Fox - Thursday, August 26 2010

N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, otherwise known as DEET is one of the most common chemical insect repellents on the market today. DEET is an oil with a slight yellow tinge that is used to repel insects like mosquitoes and fruit flies. It also is very effective against tick bites.

Until recently, it was unclear why insect repellents like DEET worked. The assumption was that it blinded the insects by blocking their smell. Recent studies indicate that DEET works because the chemical combination is truly repelling to many insects. It activates specific smell organs in bugs that trigger an intense repulsion. This dislike is strong enough to keep even the most determined insects away.

DEET based insect repellents come in a variety of different concentrations. Two of the most common are the 100% strength and the 50% strength. Using 100% DEET will usually prevents insect bites for up to 12 hours. Proportionally, the 50% strength DEET is likely to last closer to 6 hours.

There are a large number of possible ways to apply DEET. A spray is the most common application method and is available in both 100% concentrations as well as 50% concentrations. Roll on DEET is an effective way to apply the insect repellent in sensitive areas like the face and you don’t need to worry about over spray. The 50% strength is recommended for the roll on application method. Using DEET impregnated wipes is also a very useful method and is great for those hard to get to places and to ensure the consistent application. With the wipes you can pinpoint where you want coverage. Wrist bands offer the wearer a ‘halo’ of protection without having the DEET absorbed into your skin. Bands are the perfect alternative for those with sensitive skin.

DEET insect repellent does present some risks and side effects. The World Health Organization recommends that it not be used on broken skin or under the clothes. It is also recommended that you wash the skin that was exposed to the DEET between applications or when it is no longer needed as it may cause irritation. The WHO has also linked some cases of DEET-associated seizures but it is very rare. Even with the mild risks associated with DEET, the World Health Organization still recommends the use of DEET based insect repellents to protect people from the diseases carried by the insects it repels like mosquitoes and ticks.



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