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Bug off! Best way to protect yourself from bites

Many confuse DEET with DDT which was used after World War II and was considered the wonder pesticide.

If you are going to be spending time outdoors, you'll want to protect yourself. Let's start with DEET and the controversy over whether not it's safe.

The American Academy of Pediatrics approves the use of insect repellents with 10 to 30 percent DEET on children as young as two months and pregnant women.

Where did the concern about DEET come from?

Many confuse DEET with DDT which was used after World War II and was considered the wonder pesticide. But after discovering how toxic it was, the EPA banned DDT in 1972.

As for DEET, the EPA conducted a review of the pesticide and found that there is no risk to humans and no toxic effects have been found when it's applied on the skin.

This is an important fact to remember when applying bug spray containing DEET: The higher the percentage doesn't mean it's more potent. It means the longer it will protect you.

Here's the breakdown:

  • 100% DEET will protect for about 9.5 hours
  • 30% DEET for 6.5 hours
  • 15% DEET for 5 hours
  • 10% DEET for about 3 hours

Make sure you reapply to protect you for the entire time you’ll be outdoors.

There is only one natural way proven to be as effective as DEET by the EPA and endorsed by the CDC as a safe bug repellant. Oil of lemon eucalyptus, but it doesn't last as long and needs to be reapplied frequently.

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