What are repellents?

What are repellents and what they are
Repellents are chemicals that repel insects. They act differently. Some repel ticks, the second — mosquitoes, and others — and those and others at the same time. It is better to buy combination drugs. They come in the form of aerosols, emulsions, lotions, creams, gels and wipes impregnated with a special substance. But the shape of the production efficiency is almost independent. The easiest way to find on sale aerosols, creams and gels.
Top 8 Child-Friendly Safe Mosquito Repellents for Babies and Kids under $12
check out here
What are repellents made of
The composition of repellents may include different substances of both chemical and natural origin: essential oils, alcohols, pyrethroids, diethyl phthalate (DETA) and others. The most safe and effective repellents made on the basis of pyrethroids. They have a toxic effect on insects, for humans are completely harmless. However, most often repellents are made on the basis of death METAL — they occupy 60% of the world market of repellents from blood-sucking insects.
Despite the fact that diethyl phthalate refers to highly toxic substances, it is most often used in repellents — it is effective and relatively cheap. Many manufacturers well-known abbreviation DETA replace the less-known full name "DEET". Safer, but no less effective means are much more expensive, and they are few in the Russian market.

How dangerous DEET
Among Russian physicians a clear opinion regarding the danger of DEATH no – one can assure that the concentration of DEET in repellents are harmless, others suggest to use funds carefully. In some countries, such as the United States, England and Australia, DETA products are sold indicating that they are toxic and should only be applied to clothing. And children under six years to use them at all prohibited. That is, in fact, repellents are conditionally safe only when used correctly.
However, in Russia there are no such instructions. Restriction of use — only for pregnant (DETA can cause severe developmental disorders in the fetus and even cause miscarriage) and children up to three years. All the rest inflict drug not only on clothes, but and on skin. And through it a harmful substance, once in the body, can cause poisoning or allergies. Moreover, DEET is capable of hitting the nerve tissue.
The most dangerous place of depositing with DETA — face: dripping with sweat, funds can get on the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, eyes. From there — in the blood, which can cause severe poisoning. Lubrication of the hands is also not harmless: the drug can get into the body with food.
Signs of death METAL poisoning
If after use of repellents appeared headaches, drowsiness, irritability, cough, irritation skin — it is likely, that this and there is poisoning of death METAL. Many it is easy and the symptoms are blurred. Therefore, most do not even realize that repellents are to blame for poor health.
In severe poisoning, breathing may be disturbed, gait may change, disorientation, toxic encephalopathy and even paralysis of motor muscles, paralysis of breathing and coma may appear. Do not worry, so serious poisoning from DEET repellents are difficult to obtain. But given that 17% of diethyltoluamide is absorbed from the surface of the skin and enters the bloodstream, abuse of these funds is not necessary.
Allergy to mosquito protection
Allergy to insect repellents occurs infrequently. When it appears on the skin irritation, dry cough or nasal congestion may occur.
However, allergic reactions to repellents are more likely in people who already suffer from any kind of Allergy. In this case, you should choose repellents marked "hypoallergenic", but complete safety and they do not guarantee.
In hot weather, it is better not to use repellents at all — at temperatures above 25 degrees, they can behave unpredictably and provoke allergies or poisoning. By the way, at a temperature of 28 degrees plus mosquitoes generally harmless, they hardly survive, they are not up to bloodletting.
Modern repellents should not give an allergic reaction even with prolonged contact with the skin. But if protection from insects is no longer required, at the first opportunity means the skin should be washed off.
How to use repellents
If there is an opportunity not to use repellents, it is better not to do it. But if contact with insects can not be avoided, repellents should be used when there is a risk of being bitten. It is best to apply the product on clothes — it retains its properties much longer than on the skin: up to two weeks with daily wear. If the clothes are wet, the effect of the drug is reduced, and after washing and completely disappears.
If the tool is still applied to open areas of the skin, do not forget that pustular rashes, irritation, dermatitis, minor skin injuries (abrasions, scratches) can lead to an unpredictable reaction. Therefore, repellents should be applied to undamaged skin.
Do not use repellents continuously for a long time and use them more often than specified in the instructions.
For children it is better to use means of plant origin: either special children's repellents from natural components, or personally prepared means. For example, you can use clove oil or vanilla.
It is believed that the aerosol is better to put on hair and clothes, creams, gels, lotions and napkins — use for exposed areas of the skin. To minimize the likelihood of an allergic reaction to repellents, when applied, they do not need to be rubbed into the skin — simply lubricate it. On a single treatment of open skin: neck, hands, face, feet requires 5-10 ml of lotion or 3-5 g of cream.
To handle the clothes, nets, curtains, tents use 20-30% aqueous emulsion of the repellent or aerosol.
If the aerosol is applied to the skin, a jet of repellent for ten seconds is directed to the surface of the body until completely moistened.
How to choose insect repellents
1. All fumigants and repellents are made of toxic substances, so you must register with the Ministry of health and get a certificate. Means, which have no certificate, are dangerous not only for mosquitoes, but and for people. Foreign products are usually very toxic. They contain about 50% of the active substance, and the Ministry of health does not issue them a certificate. However, they still enter the market. On the shelves sometimes you can see 100% of the funds. Therefore, always read the label carefully.
2. The concentration of toxic substance is the second indicator after the certificate, which is worth paying attention to. It depends on the toxicity and duration of action of the repellent. The higher the concentration, the more toxic and the longer it works.
The most "long" — repellents of the highest category. They contain 30-40 % of the active substance. They are valid up to five hours. In drugs of the second category, the concentration of the toxicant is 20-25 %, they protect from insects up to 3 hours. The "short" contain not more than 10% of alarm substances and act no more than 2 hours. But they can be used even by pregnant women and young children, which should be written on the label and confirmed by the picture.
3. Buy protective equipment is best in a pharmacy, not in stores and especially not in stalls. The fact is that all repellents should be stored at a temperature not exceeding 25 degrees. If the temperature regime is not observed, the drug will lose its effectiveness at best, and at worst — will behave unpredictably.
4. It does not matter which brand you will use. But if unknown manufacturers do not cause trust, rely on long-existing in the market and have time to prove themselves.
5. When buying be sure to pay attention to the expiration date. Acquire protective equipment is best immediately before use.
6. For children it is better to buy special children's repellents. They are made on the basis of natural raw materials — essential oils and contain a lower concentration of active substances.