Mosquito repellent, 100% deet or not. And sunscreen....

Just bought a repellent here in the US to bring along with me to Thailand.

I got 100% Deet for me wife and 1yr old child. Now I%26#39;m told that might be bad and way to strong can anyone comment?

Also, what is recommended if I want sun protection and mosquito protection can I just apply both or will one kill the other? is the mosquito problem worse by day or night?

We%26#39;ll be visiting Chiang Mai and the area as well as samui and phuket.

Thanks in advance, Dan

Mosquito repellent, 100% deet or not. And sunscreen....

Hi Dan,

I%26#39;ve used 80% deet in Thailand and although its very effective I wouldn%26#39;t use it again, it actually feels like your skins burning when its on. Last year I used 30% and found it just as effective and it didn%26#39;t burn. I wouldn%26#39;t put 100% on a one year old and infact would ask a pharmacist what strength is suitable for a child.

The last 2 years we were in Chiang Mai and Samui I found the mozzies more rife in Samui especially around dusk. We did a 4 day hill tribe treck through the jungle areas of Chiang Mai and found the leeches more bothersome however, once again they are far worse at dusk.

Hope this helps.

Coffs

Mosquito repellent, 100% deet or not. And sunscreen....

Hi Chaimdan, what I have done I purchased a 90% DEET for my upcoming trip to cambodia. As this thign is really toxic you have to test it before your trip. Last saturday we had a day off so decided to spray ourselves and see how we react to it. I didnt mind 90% but my girlfriend decided it was a bit too much as her skin is more sensitive.

Also remember that with such high humidity you will be sweaty most of the time - it is very possible it might actually make things even worse.

So give it a try before your trip and if you see any side effects get yourself a lower % repellant.

Thanks a lot guys...

How do you mix these with sunscreen? do most of you just stick to sunscreen during the day or do you just mix? or is there a recommended combo with deet?

thanks again

I don%26#39;t bother with the mozzie repellant during the day especially if I%26#39;m swimming or out in the ocean etc, I find sunscreen fine during the day you can also buy 30+ sunscreen that has insect repellant in it as well. I would however apply deet during the day if I were going through rainforests and places like that.

When you perspire (as you will with the humidity) large concentrations of deet can actually block the pores of your skin making you very uncomfortable. 30% will be efficient.

Regards

Coffs

It%26#39;s likely too strong for a 1 year old. 30% seems to be the consensus for babies over 2 months of age. Apply sunscreen first, then the DEET.

Wow,

100% deet..That%26#39;s way too much in my opinion. I can believe when poeple say that it burns.

I use a product with 25-30% deet and it is very effective. I play a lot of golf which can be in prime mozzie country with water holes, trees etc etc.

If in doubt, check with your doctor.

Have a great holiday

Niko

First, I am not an expert on DEET or insect repellents and do not offer any opinions or recommendations. Everyone should do their own research from a variety of accredited sources and not rely on information from others especially me.

A few of the many things to be aware of when using DEET:

After returning indoors it is important to remove DEET by washing areas to which it was applied. Wash clothing which has been exposed to DEET before wearing again.

Do not apply to or under clothing.

Avoid nasal membranes, eyes and mouth, use it sparingly around ears and do not apply repellent to children%26#39;s hands.

Keep containers out of reach of children. Ingesting relatively small amounts can be fatal.

From what I have read, there is little additional protection provided by concentrations of DEET above 30%. Higher concentrations just increase the length of time that one application is effective. ';The ';effective'; time increases as you increase the concentration of DEET.';

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a maximum concentration for children of 30% and that DEET be applied to children no more than once a day. Products with concentrations around 10% are effective for about 90 minutes to two hours. A concentration of 25% provide an average time of effectiveness of at least 5 hours.

Reports of toxic effects from DEET appear to be infrequent especially at concentrations below 50% when not used for prolonged periods and used according to all directions.

[from deetonline.org]

';Can I use a DEET-based insect repellent and sunscreen together?

The effectiveness of both insect repellents and sunscreens are dramatically reduced when users apply them at the same time. Decide which is your top priority at the moment-protection from insects or from the sun-then apply either a repellent or sunscreen, plus use other measures to reduce insect and sun exposure. Some manufacturers produce a specially formulated product that combines both DEET-based insect repellent and sunscreen. These should be used with the frequency of [DEET] repellents, where you re-apply only as needed to exposed skin areas.';

A few peer reviewed studies have indicated that soybean oil repellents provide protection equal to or better than DEET products but must be re-applied every 90 minutes. Versions of these products are available that contain sunscreen and can be reapplied as often as desired. One product that combines soybean oil with other natural oils indicated 97% protection for 3 hours in studies by one university and equal to a 15% DEET product in a USDA study.

A few examples of types of information available on this subject:

faculty.washington.edu/chudler/deet.html

epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/0002fact.pdf

www.cdc.gov/travel

As everyone else has said 30% is more than enough.... your child should not be anywhere near something as strong as 100% (nor should you)... it is very toxic...

I would wear it during the day as it is the daytime mossies that carry dengue fever.... prevention better than the cure!

Check with a pharmacist or doctor re your 1yo, as 30% may not be suitable....

Hi Dan!

We went to Phuket back in April and i took with me ';Mozzie Patches'; that i purchased online at www.nomoremozzies.com ... they were terrific, they last 36 hrs and totally safe! I used them on my hubby and I and our 3 girls. No-one got bitten and no-one had any reactions to them. Perfect!

- Sam :-)

I would recommend Citronella oil to keep mossies and other insects at bay, they absolutely hate it and it%26#39;s completely safe for all the family to use. Found out about this on a trip in Sri Lanka and I%26#39;ve never had anything work better, it%26#39;s like magic. Also, if you pour some in a container and leave open in your room you%26#39;ll find it insect free. Can be brought over the internet or most herbal shops should sell it.

Oh and it doesn%26#39;t smell bad either, kind of a lemony aroma to it but not overpowering