Mosquito Repellents: What Products are Safe and Effective?

My kids and I have been covered with itchy mosquito bites these last few weeks. These bites are an unpleasant effect of spending so much time outside this spring. I’m typically concerned about mosquito bites because they cause discomfort, but the reality is that they’re also a potential health treat. Twelve of the 200 types of mosquitos that live in the continental U.S. do carry diseases (West Nile, dengue, Zika, etc.).

I want to protect my family from these diseases and the discomfort of bites, but I’m always wary of spraying chemicals on my kids. Are there mosquito repellents that are both safe and effective? Thankfully, there are several. Here are the repellents that experts recommend (you can see my sources at the bottom of this post).

Safe and effective mosquito repellents

Mosquitos are attracted to the skin odors and carbon dioxide we release. They use our warmth, movement, and sweat to find us. In general, repellents affect a mosquito’s senses (smell and taste) so it has difficulty finding a victim.

In both lab studies and field studies, the following mosquito repellents have been found to be safe and effective:

• DEET (OFF! FamilyCare Repellent, Repel Max, Cutter Backwoods)
• Picaridin (OFF! Clean Feel Repellent with Picaridin, Sawyer Products Premium Repellent with Picaridin)
• IR3535 (Coleman SkinSmart, R and R Lotion Insect Repellent)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus/para-menthane-diol (Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Repellent, Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus Repellent)
• 2-undecanone (This is an oily, plant-based substance that has shown some effectiveness against mosquitoes. Because it has only recently been used as a mosquito repellent, less is known about its safety and effectiveness.)

Repellents to skip

Some repellents haven’t been thoroughly studied, and others have been studied and found to be ineffective and/or unsafe.

Most “natural” repellents

I generally prefer using natural products on my kids, but natural repellents aren’t regulated in the same way as the products listed above. This is also true of the essential oils that many parents use to create homemade repellents. The manufacturers of these products do not have to prove that they actually work or that they are safe. If you want a natural option, then choose a product containing oil of lemon eucalyptus, the only natural repellent that has been studied extensively.

Citronella candles

Citronella candles are supposed to work as area repellents, but studies show that they are no more effective than regular candles.

Sonic repellents

Some companies sell devices that emit high-frequency sounds. They claim that the ultrasonic sounds drive away pests. Unfortunately, numerous research studies show that they do not drive away mosquitos. In fact, some studies show they may even attract mosquitos.

Electric bug zappers

Electric bug zappers use violet light to attract flying insects. The insects are zapped once they encounter the device. These do not work because mosquitos generally ignore violet light. Sadly, many beneficial insects are inadvertently killed because they are attracted to the light.

Bands and stickers

Various companies offer wearable wrist bands and stickers to repel mosquitos. Researchers have found that they do not work. Though they do contain repellents, these substances are located on the band or sticker, preventing them from protecting the whole body.

Personal foggers

Researchers have found that personal foggers that emit a repellent mist may be effective. However, there are significant safety concerns about these devices because they rely on the chemical metofluthrin, which is a potential carcinogen and neurotoxin.

Portable traps

There are a couple of new products on the market that use carbon dioxide and octenol to lure mosquitoes away from people. These products include Coleman’s Mosquito Deleto and American Biophysics Corp’s Mosquito Magnet. These devices do collect a lot of mosquitos, but sufficient research hasn’t been conducted to determine if they reduce the number of bites received by people in the area. In other words, the jury is still out on these devices.

Safety tips

Regardless of what repellent you choose to use, follow these safety tips.

• Always use the repellent as directed on the product’s label.
• Apply the repellent to exposed skin, but not under clothing.
• Avoid applying repellent over wounds and irritated skin.
• Do not spray repellent directly onto your face. Spray your hands and then carefully apply the repellent, avoiding your eyes and mouth.
• Move away from food and drinks before spraying repellents.
• Avoid using products that contain both sunscreen and repellent. This is for two reasons. First, sunscreen can affect how the skin absorbs other products. Second, you may need to reapply the sunscreen, causing you to use too much repellent. A safer option is to apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
• Wash treated skin with soap and water after returning indoors.

When using repellents on children

You should not use any repellents on children under 2 months of age. Infants this young can be protected by dressing them in clothing that covers their arms and legs and by using mosquito netting over strollers and baby carriers.

Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus/para-menthane-diol should not be used on children under 3 years of age. However, the other effective products listed above can be used on children if they are over 2 months of age.

Young children should not handle or apply repellents themselves—they require the assistance of an adult. Also, young children often rub their faces and put their hands in their mouths, so avoid applying repellent to their hands and near their eyes and mouths.

How to reduce the number of mosquitos around you

Thankfully, using repellents isn’t the only way to reduce how many mosquito bites we get. There are easy things we can do to reduce the number of mosquitos that are in our environments.

• Use intact screens on windows and doors so that mosquitos don’t come inside.
• Eliminate sources of standing water, which is where mosquitos lay their eggs.
  • At least once each week, dump and scrub any items that hold water (birdbaths, buckets, children’s pools, old tires, planters, etc.). Some mosquitos lay their eggs above the water line, so it is not enough to simply dump the water out. Scrubbing is necessary to dislodge the eggs so they do not hatch when they become submerged again.
  • Cover water storage containers (buckets, rain barrels, etc.) so mosquitos do not get in them to lay eggs. For containers that don’t have lids, cover the openings with fine wire mesh (mesh that has holes smaller than an adult mosquito).
  • Fill tree holes where water collects.
  • Fix cracks or gaps in septic tanks, and cover open vent or plumbing pipes with fine wire mesh.
  • Some large bodies of water can’t be dumped out and scrubbed. If these won’t be used for drinking, then consider using a larvicide to kill the larvae.
• If you will be gathered in a particular area outside the home, you can consider treating the vicinity with an outdoor adulticide.

Final thoughts

I know the mosquitos are excited for us to spend more time outdoors. Armed with this information, we can be excited, too! Hopefully we’ll spoil their fun and avoid their bites.

If you would like more information about safe and effective mosquito repellents, please visit my sources:

• Mosquito Repellents: What Works
• Insect Repellents Fact Sheet
• Prevent Mosquito Bites
• 4 Types of Insect Repellent to Skip
• Pest Management Fact Sheet: Insect Repellents

What have you found to be effective for avoiding mosquito bites? What are your favorite strategies and products?

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Busy Monday and Encouraging Hearts and Home.