Choosing the Right Insect Repellent

Travelling can be a fun and exciting experience, but it can also be dangerous. If you are travelling to exotic locations, there is a much higher risk that even a simple insect bite could cause you serious harm. That’s why it’s important to invest in insect repellents.

There are many different brands of insect repellent available but only four approved active ingredients. Choose which active ingredient is right for you and then select the method of application, concentration and brand.

You might be thinking that all of this is unnecessary and that you can deal with a few itchy bites. The reality is that insects in other areas of the world can be very dangerous and cause serious harm and even death. Don’t make the mistake of being reckless. It's better that you take the right insect repellent with you rather than leaving it to chance.

Choosing the right insect repellent isn’t all that hard. You just need to consider a few things. How long will it need to last? What concentration do you need? All types of mosquito repellent will repel other bugs but some are also more effective against ticks and bed bugs. Are you travelling with children? Babies younger than six months should not have repellent applied to them. Are you pregnant? Pregnant women should take extra precautions as any diseases they pick up can spread to their baby.

There are types of insect repellent that are non toxic and safe for use by breastfeeding and pregnant women. Extra precautions like insect repellent clothing and a mosquito net should also be taken.

DEET is one of the most reliable insect repellents available. Companies like Safariquip offer a wide variety of DEET repellents in different concentrations. The higher the concentration, the more long lasting the repellent is before needing reapplication.

Picaridin is a newer mosquito repellent that is suitable for sensitive skin. This repellent is non toxic, has no odour and does not cause any skin irritation. It is also not harmful to plastics like DEET repellents are. A very good natural repellent is Citriodiol this is sometimes known by it's source, the Lemon Eucalyptus tree. Taking two different types of repellent such as DEET and Picaridin provides the most reliable protection against mosquitoes.

Permethrin is a natural insecticide and repellent that is used commonly on clothing and mosquito nets. It is recommended to use Permethrin on clothing, mosquito nets and other camping equipment while simultaneously using another repellent like DEET on the skin.

When you are using both insect repellent and sunscreen it is important that the insect repellent is applied on top. Insect repellent covered by sun cream will be less effective or not work at all.

If you only need to repel insects for a short amount of time, a low concentration repellent would work. It is now known that insects can develop a resistance to DEET so it is wise to take two different repellents, then if one is not effective you have another to fall back on.

Remember: better safe than sorry.