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? No one wants to spend long evenings huddled in a tent hiding from mosquitoes. But choose the wrong insect repellent, and this sad scenario could be in your future. After all, mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting insects aren’t just annoying—they can be dangerous, spreading diseases like Zika, West Nile, Alpha-gal Syndrome, and Lyme. Fortunately, the EPA has registered and approved a number of active ingredients in insect repellents that are both safe and effective when used correctly. We spoke with Andrew Li, a research entomologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture about which repellents are most effective and why you might want to reach for something different on your next excursion.

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?

Which mosquito repellents are proven to work best? Whether you're staying in your back garden this summer or heading somewhere tropical, you'll be keen to avoid mosquito bites. There's a wide range of repellents claiming to help you do this, and avoid anything from a nasty bite to, for those travelling abroad, dengue fever or even malaria. For BBC Radio 4's Sliced Bread, listeners Nick and Yasmine want host Greg Foot to find out which mosquito repellents actually work. Nick wants to avoid bites when he is out walking, while Yasmine often takes family trips to Zambia, including to areas where malaria is a problem.