Skip all navigation Skip to page navigation

DHHS Home | A-Z Site Map | Divisions | About Us | Contacts | En Español

 
NC Department of Health and Human Services
NC Division of Public Health
 N.C. Public Health Home
 
 

Diseases & Topics

Safe Use of DEET Insect Repellent

N.C. Division of Public Health, Communicable Disease Branch (919-733-3419)

August 5, 2011

Products containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are the most effective mosquito repellents available. These products are used to repel biting pests such as mosquitoes and ticks, including ticks that may carry Lyme disease. The concentration of DEET in products may range from less than 10 percent to over 30 percent. The maximum concentration currently recommended for infants and children is 30 percent. Products with concentrations around 10 percent are effective for periods of approximately two hours. As the concentration of DEET increases, the duration of protection increases. For example, a DEET concentration of about 24 percent has been shown to provide an average of five hours of protection. A person's chances of experiencing adverse health effects from using DEET insect repellent are low if the following precautions are followed.

Precautions While Using DEET Insect Repellents

  • Do not apply to infants under two months of age.
  • Do not use a product containing more than 30 percent DEET for children.
  • DEET-containing sunscreen products should not be used. Sunscreens often are applied repeatedly because they are washed off. Unlike sunscreen, very little DEET would be washed off with water and will last for several hours. Repeated application of a DEET containing sunscreen product may increase the potential for toxic effects of DEET.
  • Read and follow all directions and precautions on the product label.
  • Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label). Do not use under clothing.
  • Never use repellents over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
  • Do not apply to eyes and mouth, and apply sparingly around ears. When using sprays do not spray directly onto face — spray on hands first and then apply to face.
  • Do not allow children to handle the products and do not apply to children's hands. When using on children, apply to your own hands and then put it on the child.
  • Do not spray in enclosed areas. Avoid breathing a repellent spray and do not use it near food.
  • Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Heavy application and saturation is generally unnecessary for effectiveness. If biting insects are not repelled by a thin film of repellent, then apply a bit more.
  • After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days. Also, wash treated clothing before wearing it again.
  • If you suspect that you or your child is reacting to an insect repellent, discontinue use, wash treated skin, and then call your local poison control center. There is a national number to reach a Poison Control Center near you at 1-800-222-1222. If you go to a doctor, take the repellent with you.
  • Get specific medical information about the active ingredients in repellents and other pesticides by calling the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at 1-800-858-7378 or emailing npic@ace.orst.edu. NPIC operates from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time (6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time), 7 days a week. The NPIC Web site is: http://npic.orst.edu/ External link.

For Additional Information