Is DEET bad for you? 9 things to know about bug spray Because many insects are cold-blooded, they’re more active in the summer when they get more energy from warm weather to feed and reproduce faster. For many of us, that brings more bug bites. That may mean uncomfortable inflamed bumps and – more seriously – the threat of diseases like West Nile Virus (from mosquitoes) and Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (from ticks). We usually try to repel insects with products containing DEET, a chemical that’s effective but has a strong scent.

Vector-borne diseases are found at almost every travel destination. Because few vaccines are available to protect travelers, the best way to prevent vector-borne diseases is to avoid being bitten by ticks and insects, including mosquitoes, fleas, chiggers, and flies, that transmit pathogens that cause disease. Travel medicine specialists should advise travelers to use repellents and take other precautions to prevent bites.

EXPLAINER | How do mosquito repellants work? To ward off mosquitoes, there are a wide variety of repellants, with the most tried-and-true products based on a substance called DEET. DEET acts as a contact-based repellent and conveys a chemical message to mosquitoes to leave. Citronella products are also used to keep mosquitoes away, but testing shows these products are far less effective than DEET. It's summertime, and for many of us that means plenty of time outside - and, unfortunately, mosquitoes. The combination of the increase in temperature and plenty of water is ideal for these blood- sucking insects to make their presence felt.

Keep Mosquitoes Away with These Tried-and-True Repellents Mosquito experts break down how to choose and use the best mosquito repellents High angle closeup of Black woman spaying legs with bug repellent Only insect repellants with Environmental Protection Agency–registered active ingredients such as diethyl toluamide (DEET)[AS1] , p-Menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) or icaridin (also known as picaridin) have been scientifically proved to effectively keep mosquitoes away. Mosquitoes are masters of speed and subtlety. Rarely do we catch one on our skin mid-bite. And when we do, the damage is often already done: the blood has been sucked, the itch-inducing saliva has been secreted, and, in some cases, a disease has already been transmitted.

What Is DEET and Is DEET Bad for You? Studies show the insect repellent is safe and effective at preventing insect-borne illness Nobody wants to become a buffet for bloodthirsty mosquitoes or ticks. But is dousing yourself or your kids with a DEET-based bug spray really the best answer? Applying chemicals to skin just seems … well, unhealthy. Let’s check in with dermatologist Amy Kassouf, MD, to find out whether DEET is safe for you and your family.

Is DEET Really Your Best Choice? We Explored Your Options for Insect Repellent. From picaridin to herbal solutions, there's a wide variety of non-DEET repellents on the market. But which work, and which are just snake oil?