Outdoor Insect Repellents

Types

• The many types of outdoor insect repellent make it easy to choose the one best suitable for you. Use an all-over spray to keep pests away from skin and clothing, or pick lotions and insect repellent wipes to apply to exposed skin. Also available are repellent wristbands, electronic devices, yard sprays and candles.

Considerations

• Although products containing DEET are considered to be safe, effective choices for most, they are not safe for everyone. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Medical Association suggest that repellents containing the chemical should not be used on infants under two months of age because of unknown side effects in developing children.

Function

• Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide, warmth, odor and moisture on the skin. The function of outdoor insect repellents is to provide a vapor barrier that insects find unattractive.