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Summer Insect Repellent Guide

A mosquito on skin

Summertime has arrived! Sunshine is always welcome, but unfortunately they come with some uninvited guests; biting insects. Read on to learn what to look for in products that are actually effective, plus other practical ways to reduce insect exposure this season.


Insect repellent is important not only to avoid itchy bites, but also to help prevent insect borne illness. In Ohio and much of the Midwest, tick-borne diseases such as Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever remain concerns. Travelers should also consider protection against mosquito-borne illnesses including Malaria, Dengue Fever, West Nile Virus, and Zika Virus Disease.


Repellents are widely available in sprays, lotions, creams, wipes, sticks, and wearable formulations. The most important factor is choosing an EPA-registered product with a proven active ingredient and using it correctly.


Bottom Line Insect Repellent Recommendations

The below post contains LOTS of information, but the big takeaways are collected here for your convenience!


For most adults and families, the best-supported options remain:

1. Picaridin 20% — excellent protection, fabric-safe, low odor

2. DEET 20–30% — highly effective and widely available

3. Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (PMD) — strongest plant-based option


For outdoor activities involving ticks (hiking, camping, yard work), combine skin repellent and permethrin-treated clothing. That combination provides the best protection against both mosquitoes and ticks.


Insect Repellent Options

DEET

  • Average duration: ~4–8 hours depending on concentration and conditions

  • Recommended concentration: 20%–30% works well for most adults; concentrations

    above 50% generally do not provide significantly longer protection

  • Popular brands: OFF!, Ben's

  • Effective against: mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies


Highlights:

  • DEET remains one of the most studied and effective insect repellents available.

  • Current guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics supports use in children

    older than 2 months when used as directed.

  • Apply sunscreen first, allow it to dry, then apply insect repellent separately rather than

    relying on combination SPF/repellent products.

  • DEET can damage certain plastics, synthetic fabrics, watch faces, and eyeglass coatings.


Picaridin

  • Average duration: 8–12 hours at 20% concentration

  • Popular brands: OFF!, Natrapel, Sawyer

  • Effective against: mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies


Highlights:

Picaridin has become one of the top-recommended alternatives to DEET because it:

  • has little odor

  • feels less greasy

  • is less irritating to skin

  • does not damage plastics or fabrics


Studies show protection comparable to moderate concentrations of DEET against

mosquitoes and ticks.


IR3535

  • Average duration: 2–6 hours depending on concentration

  • Popular brands: Avon Skin So Soft

  • Effective against: mosquitoes, ticks


Highlights:

  • IR3535 is a synthetic amino-acid–based repellent with a favorable safety profile.

  • Often used in family-friendly formulations.

  • May still damage some plastics and synthetic materials.


Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE / PMD)

  • Average duration: up to 6 hours

  • Popular brands: OFF! Botanicals, Repel

  • Effective against: mosquitoes, some tick protection


Highlights:

  • Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (specifically PMD-containing products) is one of the few plant-

    based repellents recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  • Important distinction: “Pure lemon eucalyptus essential oil” is not the same as EPA-registered

    OLE/PMD products.

  • Not recommended for children under 3 years old.


Oil of Citronella

Average duration: ~1–2 hours

Popular brands: Buzz Away

Effective against: mosquitoes


Highlights:

  • Citronella-based repellents may help briefly, but protection is shorter-lived than DEET or

    picaridin.

  • More frequent reapplication is necessary.

  • Candles and wearable citronella devices have limited effectiveness outdoors, especially

    in wind.


Catnip Oil

  • Average duration: Variable; evidence remains limited

  • Effective against: mosquitoes in laboratory settings


Highlights:

  • Catnip oil has shown promising mosquito repellency in some studies, but there are still

    fewer real-world studies and limited commercial availability compared with DEET or picaridin.

  • Not currently a mainstream CDC-recommended repellent.


2-Undecanone (Wild Tomato Extract)

  • Average duration: ~4–5 hours

  • Popular brands: BioUD

  • Effective against: mosquitoes, ticks


Highlights:

  • EPA-registered and increasingly recognized as a plant-derived alternative option.

  • More data has become available since its original introduction, though it is still less extensively studied than DEET or picaridin.


Other Important Insect Repellent Measures

Clothing Protection

  • Wear light-colored clothing with long sleeves and long pants when possible.

  • Tuck pants into socks when hiking in wooded or grassy areas.

  • Perform tick checks after outdoor activity, especially around:

    • scalp

    • behind knees

    • groin

    • armpits


Permethrin-Treated Clothing

  • Clothing and gear can be treated with permethrin for added protection.

  • Popular brands: Sawyer


Updated Information

  • Permethrin is highly effective against ticks and mosquitoes.

  • It should be applied only to clothing and gear—not directly to skin.

Pre-treated clothing can remain effective through multiple wash cycles.


Benefits of Permethrin-Treated Clothing

  • Highly effective against ticks, mosquitoes, and biting flies

  • Provides stronger tick protection than many skin-only repellents

  • Remains effective through multiple washes depending on formulation


Especially useful for:

  • hiking

  • camping

  • gardening

  • hunting

  • outdoor sports

  • travel to wooded or grassy regions


Environmental Insect Repellent Measures

  • Avoid tall grass and dense brush when possible.

  • Stay on maintained or paved paths.

  • Eliminate standing water around the home:

    • flower pots

    • gutters

    • bird baths

    • buckets

    • kiddie pools

Newer Recommendations

  • Use window screens and repair tears promptly.

  • Outdoor fans on patios can reduce mosquito activity because mosquitoes are weak fliers.

  • Tick populations are expanding geographically in many parts of the U.S., including Ohio,

    making prevention more important than ever.


Special Insect Repellent Considerations for Kids

Children can safely use insect repellent when products are chosen appropriately and applied

correctly. The best-supported options for children are:

  • Picaridin 10–20% — often preferred because it is less irritating, low odor, and does not damage clothing or plastics.

  • DEET 10–30% — considered safe for children older than 2 months when used as directed.

  • Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE/PMD) — should NOT be used in children under 3 years old.


Tips for Safe Use in Children

  • An adult should apply the repellent.

  • Avoid applying to:

    • hands

    • eyes

    • mouth

    • irritated or broken skin

  • Do not spray directly onto the face; spray onto hands first, then apply.

  • Wash treated skin with soap and water once indoors.

  • Combination sunscreen/repellent products are generally not recommended because sunscreen often needs more frequent reapplication than insect repellent.

  • For most families, picaridin-based repellents are increasingly becoming the preferred choice

    for children because they provide long-lasting protection with less odor and skin irritation.


Sources:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention insect repellent guidance

  • Environmental Protection Agency registered repellent recommendations

  • Nguyen QD, Vu MN, Hebert AA. Insect Repellents: An updated review for the clinician.

  • Q J Am Acad Dermatology. 2018;88:123-130.

  • Recent CDC and EPA guidance updates through 2025.

 
 
 

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