It's almost that time of year again when the black flies descend to bite and leave huge itchy welts that last weeks. At the same time, mosquitoes are out and looking for your blood. Another itchy nuisance that drives most people crazy. Here in eastern Ontario where we have lots of swamp areas, lakes and rivers, there are wonderful breeding grounds for all things itchy. Did you know that the biting mosquitoes and black flies are all female? Those bitches! Sure, a girl has to keep the home fires burning, but couldn't you take up pollinating flowers instead of leaving us writhing in agony?
Female mosquitoes feed on blood to help their eggs develop into offspring (Figure 1). When she bites, she releases her saliva into the area where she is biting. Her saliva contains proteins that may cause some people to have an allergic reaction such as itchy red bumps and swollen hives. For those with increased sensitivity to bites, a blister, bruise, or large inflammatory reaction can occur. If a mosquito is harboring a virus, it is possible that she can transmit the virus to humans through her saliva.
SKedaddle! was created in order to avoid the use of potentially harmful chemicals and the desire to avoid chemical compounds that may enter the body through skin, blood and inhalation. The essential oils used in Skeddadle! have been very effective in reducing the contact with mosquitoes, black flies and ticks. I’ve been sharing this wonderful product for over 10 years now and have had positive feedback on the effectiveness when used outdoors. SKedaddle! is even effective in helping dogs avoid the irritation of biting bugs.
Just about everyone I know has used, bought or borrowed a can of bug repellant. If you want to enjoy the outdoors, especially at night, then you know what this is all about. There didn't use to be a lot of choice. We happily gave our money to the folks who create 'Off', 'Deep Woods Off', 'Raid', some of the most common insect sprays on the market and easily available. Now I'm going to go all negative and down right hostile. Why? Because I strongly believe those commercial products are NOT good for you, especially for little kids, pregnant or nursing women, older people or anyone who has health issues.
Some experts also recommend against applying chemicals such as DEET and sunscreen simultaneously since that would increase DEET penetration. Canadian researcher, Xiaochen Gu, a professor at the University of Manitoba’s faculty of Pharmacy who led a study about mosquitos, advises that DEET should be applied 30 or more minutes later. Gu also recommends insect repellent sprays instead of lotions which are rubbed into the skin "forcing molecules into the skin".
The Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices of Cornell University states that, "Everglades National Park employees having extensive DEET exposure were more likely to have insomnia, mood disturbances and impaired cognitive function than were lesser exposed co-workers".[27]
The EPA states that citronella oil shows little or no toxicity and has been used as a topical insect repellent for 60 years. However, the EPA also states that citronella may irritate skin and cause dermatitis in certain individuals.[5] Canadian regulatory authorities concern with citronella based repellents is primarily based on data-gaps in toxicology, not on incidents.[28]
It’s unclear whether lower doses pose the same risks, especially if you follow directions. Still, our experts urge children, seniors and those with weakened immunity to use it with extra caution. The American Academy of Pediatrics says DEET shouldn’t be used on infants younger than 2 months, and Canada’s federal health department says children 6 months to 12 years old should avoid products with more than 10 percent DEET.
Smartest precautions
●Avoid tight clothes (which mosquitoes can penetrate), dark clothes (where ticks can hide) and strong scents (which attract mosquitoes).
●Stay inside as much as possible when mosquitoes are out: sunrise, sunset and early evening.
●When you’re sitting on a deck or patio, plug in a fan to blow away mosquitoes.
●When heading out to woody or grassy areas, tuck pants into socks, wear boots and tuck hair into a hat. When you get home, check for ticks, shower and toss clothes into a dryer.
●If you need a repellent, first try plant-based products. If you opt for DEET, use products with low concentrations, such as Off Family-Care Smooth & Dry spray (15 percent).
●Apply repellents outdoors and use them only on clothing or exposed skin (not under clothes), and wash clothes before wearing them again.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend using products that combine DEET with sunscreen. Sunscreens are intended for generous and frequent use while DEET is intended for less frequent use. The concern is that use of a repellent that combines the two compounds may promote increased and unnecessary use of DEET. Additionally, blending DEET with a sunscreen decreases the efficacy of both compounds. The CDC recommendation is to apply suncreen first, then the insect repellent containing DEET, to be sure that each product works as specified.