How Insect Repellent Works

If you are heading outdoors, you know how aggravating bugs can be. The answer, of course, is to use insect repellent to keep them from biting. Ah, but how does insect repellent actually work?

Insect repellent is used as a catch-all term, but it really covers a subset of repellents based on their active ingredient used to keep the bugs off. There are chemical products based on ingredients such as DEET. There are also natural products using active ingredients such as Citronella and oils such as lemon eucalyptus. The chemical products tend to be toxic to some extent, so repellents with natural active ingredients are generally better for you.

Given the name, most people would assume insect repellent works by repelling mosquitoes, flies and so on. Some do, but some do not. Some insect repellents work by making you smell or taste bad to a bug. Other work by masking your skin odor. The process can be analogized to stealth plane technology. The bug uses its "radar" to identify tasty humans to bite, but you are hidden from the radar by the insect repellent.

If you wear insect repellent, it is important to understand there is a second reason you may get bit. While bugs are attracted to the odor of your skin, they are also attracted to another odor you give off. In this case, we are talking about the carbon dioxide in your breath.

Insect repellents tend to be effective over only short distances. As a result, you may see mosquitoes and other bugs flying fairly closely to you. This does not mean they are biting you, but it can lead to a sensation indicating they are. The best way to determine if you are being bit is to look at the spot where the sensation is occurring. If you are, then put more repellent on!

So, should you walk around lathered in insect repellent all day long? If you are in an area with a high concentration of bugs, then you should. That being said, the biggest risk time tends to be dusk or dawn. This is the feeding time for many bugs, particularly mosquitoes.

John Grimes is with All Terrain - makers of natural insect repellent for the outdoors.

Animal and Insect Repellent - Keep Pests at Bay!

We all like to be popular, but sometimes enough is enough! When you and your household are drawing house guests that rip through your walls, leave unwanted gifts and generally make themselves at home, you can find yourself at your wits' end trying to get them to leave. While there is not much that you can do about your aunt Marge, your ant colony is a completely different story!

Animal and insect repellents are deterrents that are designed to keep specific creatures away from certain places, people or other animals. While this seems like a simple enough proposition, there are many different ways that a good repellent can keep your property safe and sound from a variety of different pests. Because each type of repellent is so specific and as there are so many different varieties, it will be wise for you to learn a little about repellents and how they work.

Despite what you may have heard, nearly any animal, no matter how wily or how immune, can be repelled in some way. There are many reasons why you may wish to keep certain animals off your property. Insects can be especially dangerous to your plant-life, whether you have a small garden or many acres of land to take care of. Similarly, you can have issues with stray dogs, coyotes, raccoons or possums, all animals that are known to be destructive and a nuisance to humans.

Some repellents are applied directly to the subject, in the form of sprays. Spray repellents are especially good for use against insects. As they are applied to skin, clothing and other surfaces, they can be carried around wherever the bearer pleases and thus result in a method of staying pest-free that doesn't involve carrying around heavy gear. This is an ideal choice for outdoor events like camping and fishing.

There are also mechanical methods of repellent. Most obvious is barbed wire, a metal wire with sharp spikes wound along its length. Barbed wire is ideal for situations on ranches and farms, when one is trying to keep coyotes away from your stock. Similarly, a fence can be electrified, further encouraging curious vermin to stay away. In a more suburban situation, you can have a sonic repellent that emits a sound in a such a high pitch that it is inaudible to humans, but quite painful to other animals, like stray dogs or feral cats.

For those seeking a more natural repellent, there are ways to make sure that the area you are trying to protect is an unattractive one to the pest in question. The urine of large predators is one way to keep your garden free of vermin: for example, the urine of a fox, will send most rabbits, squirrels and woodchucks packing!

Chemical repellents are also quite common, especially when used to combat insects. Essentially, a chemical repellent either masks the prey that a predator may be interested in or acts as an irritant to deter pests. Citronella and the oil of the lemon eucalyptus are both substances that can drive off mosquitoes. Meta-N,N-diethyl toluamide, more commonly known as DEET effectively blinds insects and makes them unable to detect nearby prey. In the case of stronger repellents, like permethrin, the chemical in question also acts as an insecticide.

Whatever your problem there's no need to play host to a variety of unpleasant party crashers. Read up on repellents and evict them today!

Franko Paul write for a number of websites that provide advice about animal repellent and insect repellent. He is a regular contributor to the Mr Repellent website.

Mosquitoes Quiver at the Sight of Insect Repellent Clothing

Insect repellent comes in a number of forms and for those in areas that have serious insect infestations, there is a need to know about all of them. Insect repellent clothing is one of the most effective ways to ensure your entire body is protected, but there are other methods of repelling insects, including personal sprays, wipes and patches and bands are other popular methods. The military has considered insect repellent clothing one of the requirements for those serving in adverse conditions because the technology exists.

The Permethrin saturated clothing that includes a DEET solution strong enough to do the job, but safe enough to wear, results in the combination of an ultrathon solution capable of withstanding the heat and sun that comes with many insect infested areas. There are many that consider working in safety netting the best option, and it is still an additional safety precaution that allows you to limit the amount of chemicals you need to use, but this type of clothing can protect those that work in adverse conditions where insect netting might not be a feasible option.

Even with repellent clothing, you will have other areas of skin that are exposed and you have to consider the sprays, wipes and other chemical possibilities to keep your skin protected from mosquitoes. While the insect repellent clothing that is treated with Permethrin will protect the majority of your body, you might need additional preventive measures. Presently there are personal repellent device options on the market which allow you to control the chemical exposure your comfortable with.

For those that are employed in outside jobs that require working in tropical areas, it is easy to understand the value of clothing and the other repellent options that are available. With the natural systems there are ones safer than using DEET which are quite effective. Citronella oil is a popular option, but there are other natural repellents that are quite effective and easily available.

The famous "bug zapper" is another form of insect eliminator that is chemical free. For additional combat devises there are the ones that are activated by motion, letting go a spray any time there is motion, those that release repellent every so many minutes and those you clip on your belt letting off an odor to repel the insects that are close enough to smell the odor.

No matter what your need may be there is a bug repellent devise that should satisfy your needs. While insect repellent clothing is one of the most popular methods that outdoor workers are considering, there are many other products available that employ a number of ideas for keeping pesky insects under control. Working outside in adverse conditions can leave you exposed to swarms of insect that are out of control where the presence of the West Nile virus could be present. For the best repellent options, you might want to consider insect repellent clothing or some other kind of personal repellent system to replace the chemical alternatives. There are organic insect repellents and natural ones to consider, as well.

If your about to venture into the wilderness this summer then head over to the authors website, where there are articles on the different types on insect repellent as well as the newest member of the repellent family, insect repellent clothing.

DEET Free Insect Repellent - Safe, Natural, and Effective

Bugs can kill a good time outside, but luckily there are natural ways to repel insects without the harmful DEET. The natural DEET free insect repellent is a safe way to keep your skin free of bugs, and it truly works.

If you weren't aware of dangers of DEET, you should know that DEET has been associated with brain cell damage in lab testing at Duke University. DEET has been shown to have a serious effect on the nervous system, inhibits the motor skills and possibly leads to memory dysfunction. The reasons that DEET hasn't been full-on banned is because it is regarded as necessary, when it in fact is NOT.

This chemical isn't quite as effective as many have made it out to be. Many store bought insect repellents have DEET listed as the active ingredients that helps to keep away the bugs. What it's actually doing is disguising your scent so bugs can't find you. What you may not know is that there are completely safe, natural alternatives to DEET bug sprays and insect repellents that lack the toxic chemicals. These products often use eucalyptus and lemon to repel insects. These two ingredients have been shown to be just as effective as those chemical bug sprays you might in stores, but just need to be reapplied a little sooner. A small price to pay to avoid some toxic chemicals!

If you're questioning whether or not DEET is really bad for you, think back to your childhood or anytime that you used DEET insect repellent. When you sprayed it on, it stunk. It made you choke, and you couldn't get it on your eyes and face. When you did, it was awful! There's no coincidence that it smells much like roach killer and other bug sprays. We just might be doing a lot more damage to ourselves and our children than we are repelling mosquitoes by using these chemical filled sprays.

Natural bug sprays are a safe and effective way to prevent disease carrying mosquitoes. Put your mind at ease and prevent the possible infection of West Nile Virus and other serious mosquito borne illnesses without the exposure to DEET.

Read more about DEET free natural insect repellents, or click to purchase this insect repellent today to get it shipped right to your door. It's the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors without having to worry about chemicals or biting bugs!

Insect Repellent - Why We Need One

There are many insects that we encounter every day, most of them are contagious of deadly bacteria, and most common diseases are insect borne such as: malaria, Lyme disease, Dengue fever. Pest animals commonly serving as vectors for disease include the insect's flea, fly, and mosquito. More and more people are being threatened by these deadly contagious insects, and insect repellent have become of their medium to personally protect themselves through these viruses. With the outbreaks, it has been a need to buy an insect repellent to avoid contact with insects that could bring you these viruses, most victims are often children.

An insect repellent is a substance that is applied to our skin, clothing, or some surfaces where insects may land to. Due to some outbreaks, it became an eye opener to create products that could possibly prevent and control the spread of the virus. There are many manufacturers who offer different kinds of repellent in the market, some of these products are also available based on sound production, some skin repellents are liquid or even like lotion based. These substances can irritate our skin but they are well developed over time. Not everyone loves to wear a lotion on a very humid condition. But it is advised to have these; you don't want to risk your health for comfort.

Regardless of which insect repellent, it is always best to read the label and directions should be carefully followed. Usages of these insect repellents vary from country to country. Some of these substances are not recommended to be used by children. A test of various insect repellents found out that the most effective kind is the one with a natural active ingredient. Most of the repellents that have natural ingredients provide you protection for insects for almost 2-3 hours; however, reapplication may still be needed from time to time. Before buying a product, you can check online reviews and comments from people who have used the items, since it's a little pricey; you don't want to get the product that will give you the least protection.

It would help to know the most important factor to consider when choosing an insect repellant spray. Insectrepellant.co.cc will give you more information about that as well as give you more information about natural insect repellent, repellent insect sprays and much more.

Deet Free Insect Repellent Vs Regular Insect Repellent - Which One is Better?

There is a new product out now by a lot of manufacturing products which are a broad spectrum of picaridin products. It is 20 percent picaridin, which is going to be a little bit stronger. You're not going to have to apply it quite as frequently and they often advertise that it's a very good product. All of these companies have been making picaridin for quite some time. Most of them are at 15 percent, they also make a 7 percent product.

One thing with insect repellent that you want to always consider that they haven't brought up previously, is that you never want to use an aerosol if you can possibly avoid it. An aerosol in order for it to spray, it is gong to have alcohol in it. And if you think about what alcohol does to the pores of your skin, alcohol dilutes the pores of your skin, and that's going to increase the absorption rate of the active ingredient in your repellent. And you don't want it to absorb in your skin, you want it to float on top of your skin. So if you ever use an insect repellent along with a sunscreen. Put the sunscreen on first, let it absorb into your skin and then float your insect repellent on top of your skin.

On the other hand, one of the most effective methods of repelling mosquitoes is deet. A lot of people are afraid of deet, because it does melt plastic and you would not want to use deet with, if you're going to be handling fishing line, you don't want to spray it on mosquito netting. You don't want to put it on,if you have a plastic or rubberized watch band. But, deet has been around for 50 years and it has never killed anybody, it has never made anybody seriously ill. The only possible issue with deet is you might get a liitle skin irritation if you are allergic to it. But, deet is the most effective method of repelling mosquitoes.

Deet comes in many, many different formats and many, many different concentrations. You can go from 100 percent deet, which is really about ninety percent deet. You have controlled released products as well which is usually a polymer encapsulated deet molecule, so it wears off at different times during the application.

One application of this particular product will last for 8 to 12 hours. You also have a product which includes an additional chemical which takes care of no see ums and biting flies. And then, you have wipes. So these are the various types of deet that you can use, and when you combine deet with permethrin on your clothing, it is pretty much bulletproof protection against insects.

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Have a Safe and Protected Outdoor Activity With OMEZONE Insect Repellent Patch

If you want to constantly live safely and dynamically, it is advised that you make use of a mosquito repellent as a simple way of repelling mosquitoes away from you. Mosquito repellents keep away mosquitoes from people to which they are obviously paying attention to. Numerous ideas and even theories subsist to give explanation on the reasons why humans are a magnet for mosquitoes - from the scent of the skin to the smell of the carbon dioxide people exhale. But whatever the reasons are, still, mosquitoes come across humans without problems. To make matters worse, mosquitoes can swiftly turn a happy outdoor fun into a painful and even disturbing and upsetting experience.

However, when you use a mosquito repellent, the biting insects are held off. By means of insect repellent, you can get hold of an exceptional and trouble-free means to keep yourself and your family more relaxed, at ease and out of the reach of the biting insects whilst spending time together in your grand outdoor activities.

There are a lot of products that can give you the shield against insect bites. But not all of them work as they promise you. Only few products can give you the utmost satisfaction and protection that you and your family ought to have.

One of the effective insect repellent products in the marketplace today is the OMEZONE Insect Repellent Patch. It works like magic. With a simple application of the OMEZONE Insect Repellent Patch on any hairless portion of your body, you can already be protected from the irritating bites of the mosquitoes and other insects. It generates an unnoticeable and impenetrable protection in opposition to the ailing effects of mosquitoes and the sickness they may bring.

By using and applying this

patch, these maddening and bothersome insects will recognize that youre safeguarded and protected so they will quickly move away and leave you on your own! The outcomes of this OMEZONE Insect Repellent Patch could carry on up to thirty-six hours even on hot and humid weather conditions.

Different studies and researches have revealed that the Thiamine (Vitamin B1), the major element in OMEZONE Insect Repellent Patch can certainly help repel insects such as mosquitoes and flies when topically applied and used to any hairless portion of the body prone to insect-bites. The thiamine-based ingredient of this Patch functions with the system's personal chemistry to produce an imperceptible protective shield that defends you from mosquito bites and all other irritating and annoying insect bites.

OMEZONE Insect Repellent Patch has no pesticides such as Deet. Deet is known to be unsafe for childrens use as it contains elements that have unfavorable effects to the health. It is absolutely out of harms way and is already proven and permitted for use in children. Furthermore, you can apply and make use of this product anytime, anywhere at your own convenience. It is truly a very effective and safe insect repellent skin patch ever.

OMEZONE Insect Repellent Patch can give you the shield against insect bites. It can give you the satisfaction and protection that you and your family ought to have. Check it out: OMEZONE Insect Repellent Patch

Natural Insect Repellents - Safe and Effective

Insect repellent sprays are applied to the skin and clothing to discourage insects from landing on that surface. The use of repellents can help prevent and control outbreaks of insect-borne diseases. Many insects carry and spread diseases such as West Nile fever, Lyme disease, bubonic plague, and others. Some repellents are very effective against pests, but contain synthetic ingredients that can be unsafe for humans. Natural insect repellents are highly effective, nontoxic alternatives that do not contain harmful synthetic ingredients.

One of the most common active ingredients found in synthetic insect repellents is DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). DEET is a powerful insecticide used in over 400 products. Although DEET is very effective as an insect repellent, its safety record is questionable. When applied directly on the skin, over half of DEET is absorbed into the bloodstream. It can cause side effects such as skin rashes, muscle spasms, nausea, lethargy, and irritability. Severe reactions can cause seizures or death. DEET is a moderate pesticide and studies have shown that it may not be safe for use in and around water sources. Therefore, the health concerns from use of DEET far outweigh its effectiveness against insects.

Natural, safe, and effective alternatives to DEET are available. Insect repellents can be made with organic, all natural ingredients that are not unsafe for humans. These products are made from naturally occurring sources that repel certain insects. Some of these ingredients act as insecticides, while others only repel pests. These natural insect repellents are made primarily from essential oils derived from plant sources. Most natural repellents are just as effective as DEET, and they have a huge advantage because the ingredients are not toxic to humans.

Insect repellents work by using a fragrance that insects naturally avoid. This odor helps to mask the human scent that initially attracts insects. Most natural insect repellents contain the aromatic oil of citronella. Citronella is an essential oil obtained from the leaves of the plant Cymbopogon. Its lemon-like fragrance is pleasant to most people, but offensive to mosquitoes and other insects. Citronella has been approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a non-toxic pesticide.

Other aromatic essential oils commonly found in natural insect repellents include lavender, rosemary, peppermint, cedarleaf, lemongrass, eucalyptus, pennyroyal, and bergamot. Research has also shown that neem oil is an effective repellent for mosquitoes. Other volatile plant oils that work well as natural repellents are cinnamon, castor, cedar, clove, geranium, pine, basil, thyme, and garlic. Soybean oil has no direct insect repellent activity, but it is often used as a fixative to extend the shorter duration of action of some essential oils. Products containing multiple natural repellents tend to be more effective for more insects than those containing only a single ingredient.

Most natural repellents contain water in place of alcohol as the carrier base. Water is less volatile and does not evaporate as quickly as alcohol. Water has less dermal absorption, which leaves more repellent on the skin. Water based products will last longer because there is less need to reapply. Also, many people are sensitive to the strong aroma of alcohol, so the water-based products have a more pleasant smell.

The use of insect repellents can help control and prevent outbreaks of insect-borne diseases. Many insects carry and spread diseases such as West Nile fever, Lyme disease, and bubonic plague. Natural, organic insect repellents that do not contain harmful synthetic ingredients are available, and are just as effective. Many repellent products also serve a dual purpose and contain sunscreen to protect the skin from the sun as well as from insects.

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Secret Insect Repellent - Mosquitoes Don't Like Listerine

It's that time of year again for summer barbecues and picnics with your family and friends. Then there are those who are not invited! I think you know what pests I'm talking about. Your very friendly mosquitoes who love barbecues as much if not more than we do! Now you can kill both germs and mosquitoes with Listerine and keep your summer free of the little pests !!!

Mosquito Spray....Worth a try

I was at a deck party awhile back, and the bugs were having a ball biting everyone. A man at the party sprayed the lawn and deck floor with Listerine, and the little demons disappeared. The next year I filled a 4-ounce spray bottle and used it around my seat whenever I saw mosquitoes. And voila! That worked as well. It worked at a picnic where we sprayed the area around the food table, the children's swing area, and the standing water nearby. During the summer, I don't leave home without it.......Pass it on.

OUR FRIEND'S COMMENTS: I tried this on my deck and around all of my doors. It works - in fact, it killed them instantly. I bought my bottle from Target and it cost me $1.89. It really doesn't take much, and it is a big bottle, too; so it is not as expensive to use as the can of Bug-spray you buy that doesn't last 30 minutes. So, try this, please. It will last a couple of days. Don't spray directly on a wood door (like your front door), but spray around the frame. Spray around the window frames, and even inside the dog house.

For more great tips and ideas visit our blog at: http://planetgreenenergy.blogspot.com/.

Green Pest Control in the Form of Natural Insect Repellents - Are They Worth It?

There are a couple of different formulas that insect repellents are available in. One of them is lotions, the other being sprays. Sprays break down in a couple of different formats. You have the pump sprays and you also the aerosol. As we discussed earlier, aerosol is not the best format because aerosol does not contain alcohol. Alcohol dilutes the pores of your skin, which increases the absorption of the active ingredient in your insect repellent into your skin, and you don't want that to happen. You want the insect repellent to float on top of your skin, because once it absorbs down in there, it becomes ineffective.

If basic mechanical motion doesn't work, then you must consider "gentle" controls just like repellents, soaps and natural oils that have little or no impact on the surroundings and beneficial bugs when only applied to the pest bug. For instance, organic neem oil spray is now popular to protect garden plants from nibbling pesky insects and fungal diseases. Use it to manage bugs and termites just like whitefly, aphids and scale. It also regulates fungal diseases like black spot, rust, mildew in addition to scab. Neem degrades quickly with UV light, so it has less of an effect on beneficial organisms as compared to more traditional pesticides.

These two particular sprays, the pump sprays are all oil based so they're going to be a little greasy, a little oily on your skin. The 100 percent deet obviously is like the mac-daddy, it really, really, really works with mosquitoes but it is a little bit oily. The two lotion based are more skin friendly, they go on, they have a lower odor and they don't stink as badly just like your typical insect repellent odor. Another thing is that they are a little more skin friendly, in terms of how they feel on your skin but they all work in certain application. The one that we do not recommend of course, is the alcohol based, the aerosol, which you can't take on a plane anyways. So that pretty much sums up the different formats.

The question is, is it really okay to put this stuff on your kids? Obviously as would be the case with you, you would not want to apply this everyday, over an extended period of time. Most of them even say that you can is this product "occasionally". They are wrong. If you're going to actually be out for a while, it is not at all advisable to put these products on your child.

You don't want to think of it as being safe to use at all, as much as you want to. When you think about risk assessment, people would say "so what is the risk of being bitten by an insect that is going to cause a disease or an illness? This product is way worse than that even! The mere fact that you are putting a chemical on your child's skin is dangerous enough to be a precaution before actually using this stuff. That is the main reason for a person to make an educated decision on whether to use this or not.

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Wasp Zappers and Other Insect Removing Solutions!

Anyone who has been out enjoying the sunshine will realise that wasps (and many other insects) are out and about too! There are many ways to deal with the problem of wasps buzzing around but one of the most effective is a Wasp Trap Bag.

This bag catches & kills wasps in outdoor areas such as patios & decking and being in such a well used area in Summer it is safe to use in places where children and pets are, plus very simple and highly effective! Also of importance to many people - it won't harm the bees!

* Highly effective

* Easy to use - just add water

* Safe to use around children & pets

* Lasts for up to 3 months

* Will not attract or harm bees!

A particularly good insect repellent product to take away with you is an Insect Repelling Wristband.

Bug Bands come in a variety of colours and really are the easy & effective way to repel mosquitoes, flies, gnats etc. Wear on wrists, ankles, belt loops or back packs. Why? Because they are:

* A natural & effective insect repellent

* Water resistant

* Deet free

* Safe for the entire Family

* Effective for up to 120 hours when kept in the resealable container

One happy customer recently said:

I have used this product before in India, Argentina and Italy and it definitely works for me. I either have no bites or the odd minor one which doesn't itch. I wear them 24 hours a day and I also use an anti-mosquito aftersun lotion. I have recommended them to a friend who always gets bitten quite badly and for the first time she has had a bite-free holiday.For effective solutions to get rid of those buzzers do click on the link to find out more there are so many ways to relax in peace without being interrupted by these pests or even worse being bitten!

Liz Hargreaves

For more great homecare tips and products visit: Caraselle Direct. Why not also sign up to the newsletter for great advice and monthly discounts: Caraselle Direct Newsletter. Caraselle Direct is an online shopping website full of great homecare solutions.

Insect Repellents - How to Never Get Bitten Again

Types of Insect Repellents

There are different types of insect repellents available. Some of them are made from natural sources like plants while some contain chemicals and are made synthetically. Normally synthetic repellents prove to be more lasting and effective. Yet, there are few plant-based repellents like natural herb mosquito coil and essential oil candle. These plant-based repellents are much better than synthetic repellents.

Common insect repellents include:

o DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)

o Neem (Azadirachta indica) oil

o Icaridin or picaridin,

o Oil of lemon eucalyptus

o Nepetalactone, popular as 'catnip oil'

o Citronella oil

o Permethrin

o Basil

o Camphor

o Castor oil

o Thyme

o Peppermint

o Fennel oil

o Rosemary

Working of Insect Repellents

Insect repellents do not kill insects. Instead, these repellents reduce your exposure to harmful insects. Most repellents work by masking your body odor. Applying insect repellents on your exposed skin changes your body odor to the insects in such a way that insects repel at your odor and hence move away. You thereby remain safe from outbreak of any insect-borne diseases.

Normally, insects, bugs, and mosquitoes use their feelers to identify human odor. As repellents change your body odor and you remain protected from insects, it is necessary to reapply repellents soon after a swim or if you sweat excessively. Most insect repellents deliver results only over a specific radius. Hence, even if you are wearing any repellent, you can see bugs and mosquitoes flying near you. However, they do not bite you.

Normally, insect repellents having a higher percentage of active ingredients like N-diethyl-meta-toluamide or DEET, Picaridin, or KBR 3023 provide longer hours of protection. Permethrin is a specific exclusion. This repellent is actually a contact insecticide but proves effective against insect bites.

Precautionary Tips

Most insect repellants are safe for use. You can even use these repellents on skin of children. However, take care to apply only small amounts and preferably do not apply on hands of children, as it could lead to accidental ingestion or eye contact. Also, do not allow children to apply repellents by themselves. Keep repellents out of the reach of children.

You can apply sunscreen after applying insect repellent or the other way round. It is best to follow instructions for application as specifically mentioned. Nonetheless, do not combine sunscreen and insect repellent in a single bottle as both are two completely different substances. Again, you cannot apply repellent as frequently as you use sunscreen.

Sometimes, repellents could cause skin irritation. You should immediately restrict use of the specific repellent. You can try using repellent with lesser concentration of chemical. If irritation persists, it is best to stop use of repellent completely. Pregnant women should take care to avoid exposures to insect repellent as much as possible as the fetus may be vulnerable.

You should read the label of your repellent product carefully before use. Labels and directions for use differ across countries. Manufacturers specifically issue warning labels on repellents that are not safe for use on children.

You need to protect yourself against insect bites through use of insect repellent specifically at dusk and dawn as this is the main feeding time for most insects, bugs, and mosquitoes.

Elena Semick writes for RepelAll.com - a repellents related information resource and online community. Visit http://www.repelall.com to protect your family and enjoy in your outdoors activities by applying various insect repellents.

Insect Repellants

Just to clarify, insect repellants do not kill insects. They repel them. They hold off, fend off, and ward off insects, specifically mosquitoes. Insects repellants help reduce exposure to harmful mosquitoes, thus minimizing the risk of acquiring deadly ailments.

Insect repellants work by decreasing the skin odor of a person making him unappealing to the insect's senses. Insect repellants should be applied and re-applied after swimming or sweating.

Insect repellants that have a higher percentage of the active ingredients provide longer protection. These active ingredients are chemically known as N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide or DEET and KBR 3023 or Picardin. Based on a study conducted in 2002, products containing 23.8% DEET provide protection for 5 hours. 20% DEET provides 4 hours of protection. 6.65% provides 2 hours of protection, and so on and so forth. In short, the lesser the concentration, the less protection it provides.

In some rare cases, the use of insect repellants can cause skin irritation. Immediately stop the use of this product and find an insect repellant with a lesser concentration of the mentioned chemical substance. If irritation still persists, completely stop using insect repellants.

Since insect repellants are often used outdoors, another main concern is if people can also apply sunscreen when they have already applied repellants and vice-versa. Simply follow the instruction on the proper usage and application of both. However, the combination of both insect repellant and sunscreen in one bottle is not highly advisable because the use of these two different substances is totally different. You do not reapply your insect repellant as often as you reapply your sunscreen so be extremely careful in case you have seen a product that offers this feature.

Insects [http://www.e-Insects.com] provides detailed information on Insects, Insect Repellants, Insect Bites, Dangerous Insects and more. Insects is affiliated with Ring Worm.

Preventions And Remedies For Insect Bites And Stings

Insect bites can happen anytime and at any place which can cause either minor or major illnesses. Usual bites that we encounter came from ants, mosquitoes, cockroaches, ticks, bees and spiders. Although most of them don't possess serious health threats, you must still be cautious about this little bugs and know different home remedies for immediate self treatment.

Most of these insects are active at night because they are some what allergic to sunlight. Warm weather is another factor that causes this bugs to be more active and much likely to have physical contact with humans. They are usually found in messy areas of the house like kitchen, garage and the garden.

Mosquito bites for example seems so harmless. But there are kinds of mosquitoes who are carriers of deadly viruses like the dengue virus and the West Nile virus. Meanwhile, a bee sting and a cockroach bite can only cause skin allergic reactions but severe cases of allergic reactions are highly possible and could be deadly.

Below are some of the known bite symptoms of outdoor insects and bugs.

Itchiness

Swelling of the skin

Redness of the bite area

Fever

Chilling

Allergic reactions

Lyme disease

Rashes

Abdominal pain

Muscle cramps

Headache

Dizziness

Bacterial infections

To keep your household bug free and prevent frequent insect contact, you can restructure your house to ensure that it can effectively repel bugs. Use refined screens and netting in your windows and doors as defensive barriers for any types of bugs. Avoid walking in grass and stagnant areas of the house, spiders and other bug crawlers live in these areas.

Clean your backyard, garden, garage and your kitchen to avoid being colonized by different insects. All areas must stay dry at all times and keep the bad and stinky odors thoroughly. Bad odors can attract flies and other common house bugs.

To repel mosquitoes, use light colored shirts because mosquitoes hate objects that can make them visible. Wear long sleeves, hat and pants when outside the house, this can help avoid mosquito bites and bee sting. Don't use too much perfumes and scented soaps, it can help attract bees.

Another simple prevention is to use insect repellent lotion. Apply lotion to your exposed skin when going out. Insect repellent lotions are very effective in repelling bugs but take extra care when applying to children. Don't ever spread it to palms and places near the face because it might be inhaled which is bad for the health. Sprays are also ideal and best to apply it on clothes and not on the skin.

After returning home, it is highly recommended to wash your skin with soap and water to remove the harmful chemicals of insect repellent products.

Now there are different types of treatment for insect bites. Below are some tips on how to deal with insect bites.

1. For bee sting, scrape the stinger away in a side to side motion with any straight edged object such as a knife. Be careful upon pulling the stinger, it might push the venom more into the sin. This are also effective for a tick bite.

2. For other bug bites, a warm or hot bath can help ease the affected area. An insect bite is a spam like symptoms so hot water bath are more beneficial.

3. Wash the affected area with antibacterial liquid soap and rinse thoroughly. The apply antiseptic ointments to reduce the risk of complications.

4. Rub an aspirin tablet to the affected area to reduce the itching. Aspirin has anti-inflammatory properties which helps reduce inflammation and itchiness. Never apply this treatment to those who has allergic reactions to aspirin.

5. Oral antihistamines such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can also provide itching and pain relief.

6. Regular household products like salt and baking soda are effective in reducing the swelling of an insect bite. Dissolve both with water and make a paste like lotion to spread into the affected area.

7. For spider and cockroach bites, wash the bite with soap and water and immediately apply antiseptic treatment. Ice pack can help slow the absorption of the venom. Most spider bites are not deadly except for black widow, brown recluse and tarantula spiders.

Take note that all this tips are general remedies for normal insect bites. Severe complications may occur with insect bites from black widow spider, brown recluse spider, scorpion and other poisonous insects. Immediate medical attention must be done once bitten. Time is important when dealing with bug stings and insect bites, so be cautious and take extra careful inside and out of your house. Serious diseases or even death can be prevented if you know the steps on how to prevent and treat this simple injuries.

About the author

Noah Mark Rodolfo is an alternative natural healthcare practitioner and is committed to bring the best health and wellness information online. Get the most updated news about health, diseases, weight loss and proper nutrition on his website at Health and Wellness.

3 Simple Tips to Make Your Own Herbal Insect Repellent

Herbal insect repellent is a wonderful alternative to the harsh chemicals found in your standard mosquito repellent. Organic insect repellents are an excellent alternative to the obnoxious smelling ones bought in the store. Herbal bug repellent can also smell quite pleasant in comparison to the store-bought variety.

The harsh chemicals found in bug and mosquito repellents bought in the store can be irritating to the eyes and skin. We all know that bug bites can be very irritating, but the rashes and irritation that the chemicals in store-bought repellents can cause can be just as irritating if not more so. Natural repellents can offer an alternative to the harsh chemicals found in store-bought commercial bug repellents. With recent trends towards a more natural and organic products it is even possible to buy herbal insect repellents in Health Food Stores and other mainstream grocery stores.

Many well-known brand names such as Burt's Bees and others are offering a good range of natural and organic products. Unfortunately, in many cases, the herbal and organic varieties of repellents available in stores can be considerably more expensive than the brands with harsh chemicals. But there is a cheaper alternative for a repellent made of herbs. You can make your own natural mosquito repellents at home with a few simple ingredients. Some of the ingredients that you'll need include fresh herbs, essential oils, and rubbing alcohol or witch hazel. A homemade herbal insect repellent can be very effective at deterring insects and even more effective at saving you money. You can make simple herbal insect repellent sprays and oils for yourself and even your pets. When working with natural bug repellents it is important to remember some basic rules:

Large amounts of citrus are toxic for cats. Do not use herbal repellents containing citrus at all on cats.
Pennyroyal should never be used on a woman who is pregnant or wants to become pregnant.
Many herbs and oils that are effective repellents can be toxic when ingested. Keep your herbs, or oils, and natural repellents out of the reach of children and pets.

A good basic herbal insect repellent recipe can include orange or lemon peel, herbs (pennyroyal, sage, lemon grass, mint leaves, bay leaf, or other insect repellent herbs), essential oils (tea tree, eucalyptus, orange) and rubbing alcohol or witch hazel. Soak the orange or lemon peel overnight in a covered pan with the herbs of your choice. Strain and mix with an equal part of rubbing alcohol or witch hazel. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and 'spritz' on exposed skin, avoiding the eyes, as needed. Remember to keep the bottle out of the reach of children and pets.

Make your own homemade herbal insect repellent for your own safety, your family's and your pets'.

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Protect Yourself From Creepy-Crawlies With Safe, Effective Insect Repellents

Whether you travel into insect infested areas for work or pleasure, be prepared by having safe and effective insect repellent for your skin and your cloths. An insect repellent or mosquito repellent can save a lot of unnecessary irritation due to bothersome insects. Not just irritation, certain insects can pass on serious diseases or ailments by their bite or sting. Having a repellent spray on hand will repel such insects and prevent them from harming you.

Working in an inhospitable environment is never easy. Insects are unavoidable. This makes an insect repellent spray a must-have item. Most mosquito repellents are formulated with substances that instantly repel ticks and mosquitoes by their smell or their chemical components. You can go for a Deet Repellent, which is known to fend off not just mosquitoes, but also ticks, biting flies, gnats, chiggers, dear flies, and fleas. The Sawyer Controlled Release Deet and the Deet Ultrathon Insect Repellent are effective choices. Both are widely accepted. Even when you perspire, the lotion will not run off as it's resistant to sweat and water!

While Deet repellent lotions and sprays are effective for exposed skin, you may also want premethrin spray for use on your clothing. You could choose between lotions and sprays. While Deet Repellent is applied directly onto the skin, the Sawyer Insect Repellent has a trigger spray top to use on other surfaces. A dependable option is the Sawyer Repellent, which should be sprayed on sleeping bags, bedding, and barriers. You can expect the effects of Permethrin contained in this mosquito repellent to last up to six weeks.

If your work demands that you carry out operations in disaster-struck areas, then you can always expect widespread diseases rampant in the area. Such situations call for preventive action against carriers of such diseases - insects. Arm yourself with an insect repellent spray and keep them at bay!

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Choosing an Insect Repellent

For most people, insect bites are a minor annoyance. The area may swell and itch for a while and then return to normal later.

This mild reaction is caused by the venom the insect carries and it normally occurs with the bite of a mosquito, fly, cockroach or bedbug. In this case, vinegar, diluted ammonia or phenolated calamine lotion will relieve itching and burning. Other insect bites can also be cleaned with alcohol, povidone-iodine or plain soap and water.

These simple measures, however, cannot protect people from the many diseases insects bring, some of which are life-threatening. If that's your concern, it may be a good idea to buy an insect repellent.

Thiamin or vitamin B1 has long been recommended for this purpose. Isolated reports say that large amounts of thiamin taken by mouth make perspiration offensive to insects, driving them away. To get this effect, dermatologists say you should take 150 milligrams of thiamin three to four times a day.

Good as it sounds, that formula doesn't work. The US Food and Drug Administration said that as early as 1960, thiamin was found to be ineffective as an insect repellent. In that experiment, volunteers took as much as 200 milligrams of thiamin three times a day and exposed their forearms to hungry female mosquitoes. The result: everyone got bitten in spite of the thiamin they took.

In choosing an insect repellent, look for a product with N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide or deet for short. This chemical was first synthesized in the 1950s and remains the most effective repellent against a wide variety of crawling and flying pests. Concentrations of up to 95 percent were used by American troops during the Vietnam War and many manufactures have incorporated deet in their insect repellents since 1961.

Deet's performance depends on how much is used. A product that contains more deet is more effective and can ward off mosquitoes for over six hours and stable flies for over 4 1/2 hours. Tests made by Consumer Reports also showed that deet performed well against two of the most common and troublesome species of mosquitoes - the Aedes aegypti which causes dengue or H-fever, and Culux pipiens which causes filariasis.

But that protection comes with a price. Since deet is absorbed in the bloodstream, higher concentrations of this chemical can cause serious side effects.

"Among the most dramatic instances: six girls under age nine developed toxic encephalopathy, a swelling of the brain that can cause disorientation, convulsions and death. Three of the girls died. Deet repellents had been applied copiously to most of the girls for weeks or months, and one girl had metabolic disease that apparently made deet's effects worse. But another victim had been wearing insect repellent for just two days. More recent reports have noted brief seizures in five males - four boys under age eight and one adult - after they used deet repellent of varying concentrations, typically only once or twice daily," according to Consumers Reports. (Next: The trouble with deet.)

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Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine http://www.HealthLinesNews.com

Insect Bites Remedies

Parents, especially mothers would have their own ways of protecting their children against any possible danger; be it inside or outside the house. And with the frequently changing weather, there are so many threats to children's health. And among the factors that are posting danger to children insect bites prove to be one of the most prevalent. Insect bites may be done by several pests and insects that are feeding on humans' blood. These insects are very attracted to children, especially to infants due to their sweet scent and pure blood. Parents should watch out for the following insects and the dangerous illnesses they can incur among kids by just touching and biting their skins.

a. Mosquito

These insects normally inhabits in dark and cold places. That is why they are found to be lurking and flying under the table, in small crevices, empty and wet drums and bottles, and many other locations. They usually bite at night but there are types of mosquitoes who are attacking at day time and they are the Asian Tiger Mosquito. But among different types of mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti served to be the dreaded one because it is the one that can transmit dengue or the yellow fever. They can easily multiply in stagnant water, especially if kept in a dark or dim place.

The best preventive solution against any type of mosquitoes is cleanliness. Always put cover to all containers with water. Dispose old tires because it is also another nesting place for them. Schedule a regular fumigation paired with anti-mosquito aerosol sprays for more intensive action. As for your children, let them put on insect repellents every once in a while. There are available insect repellents in the market that are made of the Neem plant which is a natural insect repellent. It may be used for younger babies and infants.

b. Cockroach

Going through ancient history, cockroaches have already started sprawling and crawling around even before anyone of us has been born. It is said to be the last one standing after the nuclear bombings that killed millions of people. So, you can only imagine how many cockroaches there are now all over the world. You can see them in dirty places most of the time such as canals, sewers, and garbage bins. Just like any other insects, cockroaches can bite human skins. And once you have been bitten, the bite will leave a reddish mark that will gradually become swollen in a few minutes. The bite mark is usually a bit hard and warm. Cockroach bites are slower to heal than mosquito bites. It could even leave a dark mark once it finally heals. If kids are bitten, bites located near the face and neck area can be very fatal. Each cockroach bite is filled with poisonous substances that cause redness and swelling. The poison may spread easily in the sensitive areas of the face and neck. It can lead to suffocation, blood infection, and ultimately, death.

Insect repellents cannot protect your children from cockroaches. There are available home remedies in the market such as aerosol sprays, chalk markers, sticky traps, and many more. But the most effective prevention would be cleaning all places inside the house. And never leave any food crumbs or leftover foods in any part of the house.

c. Bed Bugs

These little critters resemble cockroaches but they are very small, you can only touch them through the tip of your finger. Bed bugs usually take comfort in the small crevices and holes through your furniture including your beds, especially if they are already old and worn out. They love to stay in dark and skimpy places. They attack in the night when the temperature is already cold. You can hardly feel them because of their small size. They only feed once or twice a month, but once they do, they really see to it that they are satisfied. It means they can bite you several times in one night. So, when you see small reddish marks on your skin that are close from each other, they have feasted on you as their food for the night which served as their breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. These insects can reproduce so fast. If you see one at a certain time, surely, you have a bunch of them in your mattress. Their bites are very itchy and can get swollen but not as big as that of with cockroaches.

Bed bugs are hard to eliminate if you are going to do it by yourself. There are pest busters that offer pest control services which include bed bugs. Bed bugs control and elimination will take a day or two if the infestation is already worst. Some may require you to buy new furniture and renovate certain parts of the house.

If you have troubling cases of these insects in your house, do your best to eliminate them before they get to your family. Remember, a simple bite contains thousands and millions of toxins and poisonous chemicals that can be harmful to your child. And in all of these pest cases, the main solution and prevention would be CLEANLINESS.

Alexa Rae Ciriaco is a single mother, a teacher, and a writer. She is currently taking up her Graduate Studies on Educational Technology. She also specializes on parenting topics, specifically regarding infants and toddlers. She is also inclined into writing articles of various niche.

Garden Sprayers Home Remedies - Produce Your Very Own Natural Insect Repellent

Summer season tends to make me happy. I love taking a swim, enjoying baseball, and not wearing socks for four months. But if there's one point about summer which bugs me, it's... well, bugs. Not only are mosquito bites itchy and painful, they're also dangerous. Going outside, specifically into a wooded area, with no insect repellent is not an option.

But insect repellents, as you could see, are not eco-friendly nor particularly healthy for you. Most are created using DEET, which is noteworthy in keeping off pesky pests but not something you want swimming around inside your blood vessels, which is precisely where it ends up once you spray it on your skin. Fortunately, for those who want to safeguard their health by avoiding both insect bites and chemical-based bug repellents, there are all kinds of do-it-yourself formulas for natural bug sprays.

Google "create your very own bug repellent" and you will get more formulas than you can shake a stick at. (I've never understood that expression, but obviously that doesn't stop me from making use of it.) In many recipes, the main components are alcohol (either rubbing or perhaps the type you could drink) plus essential oils. Here is one that I think is just great!

Ingredients:

1 cup of grain alcohol (organic and natural if available), vodka, or witch hazel

30 drops essential oils (lavender, citronella, rosemary, rose geranium, lemon, or tea tree oil (pick one or a mix of only 2)

Directions:

Put all of the ingredients inside a spray bottle. Shake very well. Spray liberally all over your skin just before going outside. Reapply as necessary. This recipe must also ward off ticks, fleas, wasps, and other unwanted pests. Keep your homemade repellent inside a dark container far from heat as well as sunlight.

You can also dab essential oils directly on your skin - normally in the elbows, behind the knees, and at the rear of your ears will do. However, give this a test run prior to going outside to make sure your own skin doesn't react badly to the oils. Different kinds of essential oils react differently with individual body chemistry, thus you might have to experiment a little before getting the one that's right for you.

If you don't wish to produce your own, there are a myriad of natural insect repellents on the market. A varuety of manufacturers all produce organic insect sprays that are DEET-free and safe for kids. Just how do you keep the bugs away? Just follow these directions and you are good to go!

The addition of Garlic to every one of our dog's meals will help to keep them free of fleas, as will the addition of Sulphur to their diet on a once per week basis. Remember that none of these remedies work overnight and may take approximately 4 to 6 weeks before they are effective. If you think that your pet does have a flea infestation check out the animal closely by separating the hair on the animal's back or flank area.

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Lemon Tea Tree Beeswax Candle - Natural Mosquito & Insect Protection

Lemon Tea Tree ( Leptospermum petersonii ) has the bacteria fighting strength of the common Tea Tree plant along with a wonderfully clean, fresh lemon scent. Its aroma is similar to the fragrant Lemongrass oil, but lighter.

Lemon Tea Tree is reputed to have extraordinary power as a NATURAL insect and mosquito repellant!

Highly recommended for protection against mosquitoes and insects. Be safe and healthy this summer with this NATURAL outdoor fragrance that does not contain any DEET (which is known to have toxic side effects).

LEMON TEA TREE BEESWAX CANDLE: Make your own Lemon Tea Tree beeswax candle to use outdoors on those long, slow summer evenings!

Recipe for one candle: Fill the inside of your candle container with beeswax pearls. A 4" round X 2.5" deep tin or terra cotta bowl is ideal.

Pour the beeswax pearls into a large glass measuring cup that sits inside of a large pot that's been partially filled with hot water. Heat the pot of water on the stove until the beeswax pearls melt.

Remove the glass measuring cup with melted beeswax from the pan. Cool slightly before adding 60 drops of Lemon Tea Tree pure essential oil. Gently stir the mixture with a sterile stainless steel spoon. Pour the Beeswax infused with Lemon Tea Tree oil into your candle container and allow to cool for 4 hours before using.

SYNERGY BLEND: For a pleasing synergy blend 30 drops each of Lemon Tea Tree and Lemongrass pure essential oils and add to your melted beeswax.

PLEASE NOTE: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use certified organic essential oils, or oils that have been tested and are pesticide free.

Aromatherapy is a gentle and noninvasive complementary health care system used for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind, spirit and emotions to enhance your health. Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being and may produce satisfying results where other methods have failed. Please consult with your physician regarding serious health concerns and do not attempt to self diagnose.

KG has developed massage training and holistic health programs for the spa industry, health clubs and clinics, schools, resorts, as well as for individual clients. She is a MindBody Therapist and Health Educator with advanced certification and training in Bowen Therapy, BodyTalk and Aromatherapy. She is the owner of Springhill Wellness Center and the Founder & Director of PurePlant Essentials aromatherapy products.

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Click to learn about KG's other fine aromatherapy products
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More Info? Contact: KG Stiles at Springhill Wellness Center, 2520 Springhill Drive Ashland, OR USA (541) 941-7315 Mahalo!