Though DEET is still the most effective of mosquito repellents, some people prefer to use naturally derived substances. In some cases, you can’t use DEET. Infants, in particular can’t be treated with this substance, but some natural mosquito repellents are also not recommended for use on young children.
One of the new mosquito repellents that many people find effective is picaridin or piperidine. This is derived from pepper, though it is chemically produced. It doesn’t have odor like DEET does, and it can be used on younger children. Some people may have eye irritation when using picaridin, but many report no skin irritation. People often prefer use of this product to DEET and it is probably the next best of the mosquito repellents on the market. You can find picaridin in a number of commercially manufactured repellents.
There are many suggestions for other natural mosquito repellents, but unfortunately, testing on many of these products proves them to be minimally or not at all effective. Some products people have used include combinations of lemon and eucalyptus oil, neem oil, geranium oil and citronella oil. Tests of lemon and eucalyptus oil conducted by the independent test agency, Consumer Reports, finds this combination is not effective and it is moreover not recommended for children under the age of three.
Similarly, citronella oil shouldn’t be used on children under the age of six months. However, it has some mosquito and insect repelling properties. Another product, neem oil, which is derived from seeds, may also have some limited effectiveness in repelling insects but it should never be used by pregnant women. Like pennyroyal, neem oil contains some elements that might cause miscarriage.
A few other naturally derived substances may potentially limit mosquito bites. Clove oil might be effective, but you can’t simply apply this to skin without causing irritation. Thyme oil is another possibility, but again may irritate the skin. Other people focus on the idea that you can ingest certain substances to keep mosquitoes from biting.
Some theories on oral mosquito repellents include the ideas that taking various vitamin B substances or eating plenty of garlic may help keep mosquitoes at bay. Others swear by eating brewer’s or nutritional yeast as a means of fighting off mosquitoes. There are few studies on the overall effectiveness of these methods, though from an anecdotal perspective, some might be tried without harm to self. Still, the risk of disease contraction from mosquito bites should not be underestimated. If you cannot find effective natural mosquito repellents, you may be best be served by using one that is chemically derived to prevent contraction of certain diseases.
