Insect repellent is designed for humans to repel the insects when outdoors. Insect repellents come in many different forms. The most common form is the liquid form put on surfaces or clothing to repel them away. Insect repellent was created to control the spreading of disease, as scientist found out can travel through insects. It was also made to mask out human smell.

Man- made or synthetic repellents seem to be the most effective. There are many types of repellents from syntactic, oils and natural.

Repellent is made for many reasons and many activities. The most known activities such as fishing, hiking, camping, or even visiting beaches, are very good examples of when you should keep some handy. In 1957, DEET was created. DEET is N-diethyl-m-toluamide. It was developed by the US army for civilian usage to prevent these harmful stings and diseases. A full concentration of DEET can repel insects up to 12 hours. DEET isn?t safe for humans. It has been reported that in some cases of testicular cancer, DEET has been a factor. It isn?t recommended for children under 3 yrs or age and should be washed off soon, as it isn?t needed anymore. DEET shouldn?t be used around water or any water sources. A heavy concentrated amount of DEET can cause slight toxic affects on fish. Permethrin is another form of chemical repellent that isn?t really safe for humans and animals. It also cannot be used around any water sources because it is harmful to aquatic life.

With so many stipulations about using these chemical repellents, one has to wonder if the natural repellent is the way to go. Natural repellent such as citronella and lemongrass oil can be used. There are citronella candles made to prevent any contact with skin if needed. Some examples of natural repellents are garlic, camphor, tea tree, peppermint, eucalyptus, and soybean oil. You can use these repellents without having to worry about any side affects to humans or animals. These repellents only last for 4 to 6 hours unlike DEET. Natural repellent opens up doors to an array of insects. Many can be repelled by natural chemicals.

There are many rules to handling repellent so the usage is effective. First keep any form of repellent away from children. Do not let them apply it themselves to prevent any accidents of ingestion. Use only small amounts of repellent at a time; try to dress in a manner that allows you to use less repellent. Do not apply to open wounds or cuts. This may worsen the existing problem or cause infection. If the repellent comes in an aerosol can be sure to use it in an open area. Not a lot of repellent is needed to get the job done. If it is a chemical repellent, never apply directly to the skin. And when finished, make sure you wash you hands and any other areas that the repellent may have touched. You should do research about what repellent is best for you. Make sure you know what kind of ingredients are in your repellent. Reading the materials will help you further realize what repellent is best for you?