Paul Auerbach, MDWilderness Medicine
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Insights on Repellents

Paul Auerbach, M.D.

At Tropical Medicine 101, we had a wonderful lecture about insect repellents from Dr. Scott Carroll, a biologist from the University of California, Davis who studies insect behavior and evolution. One of the more interesting points he made is the fact that "lemon eucalyptus," which is marketed as a repellent and felt to be as effective as 7.5% DEET, is actually not from eucalyptus, but is actually a product from the lemon-scented gum tree Corymbia citriodora (pictured here).
The product is water-distilled from the leaves, and the repellent is found in the spent fraction as para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD). Of particular note, true eucalyptus oil does not work as an insect repellent.

Other repellents that are effective contain DEET, or N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide, which is the active ingredient that is most widely used in commercially available insect repellents. A concentration of 20 to 30% is sufficient. Picaridin (KBR 3023 or Bayrepel), also in a 20% concentration, is an excellent repellent, as is 20% IR 3535 (sold as Avon Skin So Soft BUG GUARD PLUS IR3535® EXPEDITION™ Insect Repellent Aerosol). Picaridin and IR 3535 (ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate) may have more favorable safety profiles compared to DEET, but all three are still highly recommended.

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photo of Scott Carroll by Jenella Loye

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1 Comments:

  • At Tue Aug 29, 09:01:00 PM 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Do you feel that it's worthwhile to purchase clothes that are pre-washed with Permethrin? Is it a good idea to wash your hiking clothes in this prior to going on a hike? Should I buy Permethrin soap and wash my kids with it :)

     

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