Bug spray is a must-pack for camping trips, hikes, and other summer activities. But social media influencers and big brands alike may have you thinking twice about purchasing products that contain DEET, a common ingredient in insect repellents.
Online, many creators and companies promote “natural” and “non-toxic” alternatives to DEET insect repellents, suggesting that DEET products aren’t safe.
“Most conventional bug sprays contain DEET, a harsh chemical that has been linked to skin irritation, neurological effects, and even hormone disruption, [and it’s] especially risky for kids,” TikTok creator Karly Fitzgerald said in an April video.
But do you really need to avoid DEET? Experts don’t think so.
“Research suggests that DEET is safe,” said Arch Mainous, PhD, professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Community Health and Family Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine.
If anything, he told Health, effective bug sprays are more important than ever, since “we are seeing more and more mosquito-borne illnesses, and we’re seeing them in places that didn’t use to have them.”
DEET, known scientifically as N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, was developed by the U.S. Army in 1946. It’s been available to the public since 1957 and is primarily used to repel biting arthropods such as mosquitoes and ticks.
Despite DEET’s long history, there’s some debate among scientists about exactly how it works. But the general consensus is that the chemical messes with insects’ senses of smell to keep them from biting, Jamie Kopco, PhD, a pesticide education specialist with the Penn State University Extension and a medical entomologist in the U.S. Army Reserve, told Health.
That explains why some bugs, such as horse flies, aren’t bothered by bug spray—they use vision, not scent, to find targets, he added.
Even if scientists don’t know exactly how DEET works, studies have long shown that it is highly effective. It’s “the gold standard” of insect repellent, Kopco said.
Over its decades of use, there have been scattered reports of death and serious health issues among people who used DEET.
However, most of these incidents occurred after people incorrectly used the DEET insect repellent, such as by drinking it or applying excessive amounts. Multiple reviews by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have concluded that DEET is safe when used appropriately.
To put it in perspective: It’s estimated that more than 100 million people in the U.S. use DEET insect repellents each year. Yet, fewer than 3,200 safety incidents were reported from 2007 to 2012, usually involving minor skin, eye, or respiratory irritation, according to the EPA.
Some studies (including some conducted in animals) have raised concerns about longer-term DEET health risks, but the larger body of scientific research suggests the bug sprays are safe, Mainous said.
He and his colleagues found no links between DEET exposure and biomarkers related to inflammation, immune function, liver function, and kidney function in a 2020 study of about 1,200 adults.
Other researchers have also found that DEET—at proper doses—is safe for pregnant people and fetuses, as well as children.
So why do the worries stick around? Mainous thinks it’s a combination of general wariness about chemicals and environmental toxins, as well as the natural human tendency to get more “fired up” about the potential for harm than studies finding no apparent risks.
When you’re using DEET insect repellent, it is possible that you might experience some minor skin irritation. And there are some people who are allergic to the chemical.
But for the most part, such risks pale in comparison to the potential complications of insect-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease and West Nile virus, Kopco said.
“All the things that DEET is used to prevent, we know those are really bad for you,” he said. “Especially if you’ve never had a bad reaction to DEET before, DEET is the net-safer option, compared to going with nothing.”
Though experts recommend using DEET bug spray, it is important to apply it correctly.
For one, follow the application instructions on the package so you’re not applying too much.
To cut down on the risks of inhaling or swallowing bug spray, the EPA recommends against spraying your product in an enclosed space, near food, or directly onto your face. Make sure to apply it only on your skin or clothes, avoiding your eyes or any broken skin.
When it comes to kids, DEET is still considered safe. But the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:
- Supervising or helping kids with application
- Choosing products containing no more than 30% DEET
- Being “especially cautious” with newborns and premature infants
Finally, if you’re using both sunscreen and bug spray when you’re outside (as you should!), apply your sunscreen first.
“For bug spray to work, it needs to evaporate. For sunscreen to work, it needs to stick,” Kopco explained. “They kind of cancel each other out, unless you put sunscreen on the bottom and then bug spray on top of it.”
If you do decide to ditch DEET, you have options.
Picaridin is a good choice, Kopco said, as it’s effective and long-lasting. Some people also prefer its smell and feel on the skin to those of DEET, he said.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is derived from the leaves of lemon eucalyptus trees and then chemically synthesized, has also proven to be quite effective in some studies. However, it should not be used on children younger than 3.
There’s also permethrin, which—unlike classic bug sprays—is applied to clothing, rather than bare skin.
Permethrin works against mosquitoes and other flying insects, but it’s an especially good tool for preventing tick bites, Kopco said.
Ticks “attack from the ground and crawl their way up,” he explained. “If your shoes, socks, and pants are treated with permethrin, there’s really no way a tick can get on you without contacting it.”
The bottom line? From a health perspective, there’s no pressing reason to ditch DEET. But if you’d rather not use it, there are plenty of other products that can protect you from insects and the diseases they carry.
