# What's the straight dope on insect repellent sprays? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 5, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-insect-repellent-sprays/199716 "2003-09-05T13:24:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-insect-repellent-sprays/199716/21 "2003-09-08T14:29:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by godzillatemple \* > \*\*The bad news is that I still got multiple bites on my lower legs, between the top of my socks and the bottom of my shorts. \*\* You wear shorts while hiking?!:eek: You should wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, no matter how hot it is. And tuck your pant legs into your boots to prevent tick bites. I also wear hiking boots. They take the mud and bad terrain better, and if you do step on a fire ant hill (if you have them where you live, and God knows we have them here in SC), you may notice them in time before they are able to climb down into your lower leg. OTOH, if you wear sneakers, they will be on your leg before you can say “Jackie Robinson.” ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-insect-repellent-sprays/199716/22 "2003-09-08T14:42:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by barbitu8 \* > \*\*You wear shorts while hiking?!:eek: You should wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, no matter how hot it is. And tuck your pant legs into your boots to prevent tick bites. I also wear hiking boots. They take the mud and bad terrain better, and if you do step on a fire ant hill (if you have them where you live, and God knows we have them here in SC), you may notice them in time before they are able to climb down into your lower leg. OTOH, if you wear sneakers, they will be on your leg before you can say “Jackie Robinson.” \*\* Hey – it’s not like we were hiking in the tall grass. It was the Blue Hills in Canton, Massachusetts. Steep rocky hills covered with coniferous and deciduous forest. No mud, no fire ant hills – just lots of trees and rocks. I wouldn’t say I was exactly wearing “sneakers,” BTW. They’re made by Dunham and are billed as “hiking shoes”. A lot more support than sneakers and better tread as well, but not as clunky as hiking boots… Barry ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-insect-repellent-sprays/199716/23 "2003-09-08T14:46:47Z")
You should wear long pants not primarily due to fire ants but to prevent being bitten by various and sundry bugs, as in fact you were. ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-insect-repellent-sprays/199716/24 "2003-09-08T14:51:09Z")
Well, I could also go hiking wearing mosquito netting, or simply stay at home. The purpose of this thread was to see if insect repellents work well enough so that one doesn’t have to cover oneself from head to toe in order to avoid being bit. What’s with the “blame the victim” attitude all of a sudden? Sheeesh… ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-insect-repellent-sprays/199716/25 "2003-09-08T15:34:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by godzillatemple \* > \*\*… insect repellents work well enough so that one doesn’t have to cover oneself from head to toe in order to avoid being bit… \*\* I notice the NEJM article cites a 1974 source that asserts a “known inability of repellents to protect beyond 4 cm from the site of application.” So I’d say that yes, any mosquito-accessible flesh needs to be covered in repellent to avoid being bitten. ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-insect-repellent-sprays/199716/26 "2003-09-08T15:37:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by emilyforce \* > \*\*I notice the NEJM article cites a 1974 source that asserts a “known inability of repellents to protect beyond 4 cm from the site of application.” > > So I’d say that yes, any mosquito-accessible flesh needs to be covered in repellent to avoid being bitten. \*\* Was that article written before or after they started using DEET in insect repeallants? ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-insect-repellent-sprays/199716/27 "2003-09-08T15:43:54Z")
Good question. After. According to [http://www.bug-spray.com/DEET.htm](http://www.bug-spray.com/DEET.htm), DEET was developed in 1951. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-insect-repellent-sprays/199716/28 "2003-09-08T15:53:55Z")
**barbitu8** :I am interested in your post about permethrin. I never heard of the stuff. **godzillatemple** : You need protection head to toe with something, either clothing or repellent. BTW, since you sweat heavily, as do I, I’d suggest something other than jeans. Besides the sweat attracting mosquitos, jeans get _very_ heavy after a short time. Go to REI, EMS, or similar and get some cotton or nylon hiking trousers. You’ll never go back to jeans. I’ve never got a mosquito bite on my legs while wearing nylon. It may be just luck, or it may be that the nylon is too tightly woven and flops around too much for the critters to get a toehold. Finally, I’ve been told, though I’ve never asked an entomologist, that mosquitos have specific flying times, dependent on species. The thinking is that, by avoiding going out when the mosquitos are flying, you can avoid getting bit. Never worked for me, though, outside of the fact that dusk seems to be their favorite time. I’ve tried googling this, but didn’t come up with squat. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-insect-repellent-sprays/199716/29 "2003-09-08T15:59:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rowrrbazzle \* > \*\*I’m in the US, and I use Walgreens Family Insect Repellent (unscented, with aloe vera). It seems to have a very slight smell that goes away after it dries. “Off” also has an unscented product. > > As to your reacting just to the DEET, it can’t be ruled out. Maybe your local store will let you test a spray on a small area of skin. \*\* “Off” fries me, seriously “unsecented” ( :dubious: ) or otherwise. Next time I’m in the U.S., I’ll pop by a Walgreens and buy the one you recommended to test. Sadly, the last insect repellent I tested, I tested for over week on the sensitive spot in the crook of my arm. Nothing happened so I thought “great!” and sprayed it on when I was going out for a hike… I was bedridden for a week, drugged up on antihistamines – both my legs were long, squishy, red, weeping blisters of misery. (No scars though, thank goodness for small favours.) The other risk is of course that I’d react to the DEET, but as yet, I haven’t been able to even _test_ any DEET repellent out because they all have artificial fragrance added. I assume I likely _will_ react to the DEET, but it’s worth trying. I hate mosquitos with a passion. HATE 'EM! ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-insect-repellent-sprays/199716/30 "2003-09-08T16:07:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kelly5078 \* > \*\ ***barbitu8** :I am interested in your post about permethrin. I never heard of the stuff. > \*\* [Permethrin Spray Tick Repellent](http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=226&prrfnbr=1045). “For use on clothing. Effective for 2 weeks. Odorless after application.” [Fite Bite](http://www.magellans.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=2603&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=7&iSubCat=28&iProductID=2603). “Experienced travelers to mosquito-infested areas include permethrin in their insect battle plan (in addition to DEET on their skin). It binds to clothing and bedding to repel any insect, although it’s not harmful to material (or humans). One application will last two weeks and at least two launderings.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-insect-repellent-sprays/199716.md?page=1)