Using Insect Repellents Safely and Effectively | US EPA

Also, there is no restriction on the percentage of DEET in the product for use on children, since data do not show any difference in effects ... Skiptomaincontent Officialwebsitesuse.gov A.govwebsitebelongstoanofficialgovernmentorganizationintheUnitedStates. Secure.govwebsitesuseHTTPS Alock(LockAlockedpadlock)orhttps://meansyou’vesafelyconnectedtothe.govwebsite.Sharesensitiveinformationonlyonofficial,securewebsites. RelatedTopics: InsectRepellentsMosquitoControl ContactUs UsingInsectRepellentsSafelyandEffectively InformaciónrelacionadadisponibleenespañolForthesafeandeffectiveuseofpesticideproducts,alwaysreadtheproductlabelbeforeusingtheproduct. Onthispage: Ensuringsafety Applyingtheproduct Othersafetytips Repellentsandchildren Maximizingeffectiveness EnsuringSafetyRemembertheseimportantpointstouserepellentssafely:ApplyingtheProduct Readandfollowthelabeldirectionstoensureproperuse; besureyouunderstandhowmuchtoapply. Applyrepellentsonlytoexposedskinand/orclothing.Donotuseunderclothing. Donotapplyneareyesandmouth,andapplysparinglyaroundears. Whenusingsprays,donotspraydirectlyintoface;sprayonhandsfirstandthenapplytoface. Neveruserepellentsovercuts,wounds,orirritatedskin. Donotsprayinenclosedareas. Avoidbreathingasprayproduct. Donotuseitnearfood. OtherSafetyTips Checkthelabeltoseeiftherearewarningsaboutflammability.Ifso,donotusearoundopenflamesorlitcigarettes. Afterreturningindoors,washtreatedskinandclotheswithsoapandwater. Donotuseanyproductonpetsorotheranimalsunlessthelabelclearlystatesitisforanimals. Mostinsectrepellentsdonotworkagainstliceorfleas. Storeinsectrepellentssafelyoutofthereachofchildren,inalockedutilitycabinetorgardenshed. Useotherpreventiveactionstoavoidgettingbittenby: Mosquitoes Ticks RepellentsandChildrenWeadviseconsumerstoalwaysreadandfollowlabeldirectionsinusinganypesticideproduct,includinginsectrepellents.Becausechildrenfrequentlyputtheirhandsintheireyesandmouths,EPArecommendsthatallrepellentproducts havethefollowingprecautionarystatementsrelatedtochildrenontheirlabels: Donotallowchildrentohandlethisproduct,anddonotapplytochildren'shands.Whenusingonchildren,applytoyourownhandsandthenputitonthechild. Afterreturningindoors,washyourchild'streatedskinandclotheswithsoapandwaterorbathe. Accordingtotheproductlabels,someoiloflemoneucalyptusproductsshouldnotbeusedonchildrenundertheageofthree.Therearenorestrictionsforuseonchildrenunderthreeyearsofageforcertaininsectrepellentproductscontainingoiloflemoneucalyptusastheirsoleactiveingredientatconcentrationsof30%orless.ApplicantsseekingtoamendrestrictivelanguagefromthelabelsoftheirEPAregisteredOLEproducts,atthespecificationsdescribedabove,mustfirstsubmitanapplicationtoEPA. Indoingso,applicantsmustconsidertheirsourceofOLEandacknowledgewheredatacompensationsmightapply.QuestionsoftenariseaboutuseofDEETonchildren.DEETisapprovedforuseonchildrenwithnoagerestriction.Also,thereisnorestrictiononthepercentageofDEETintheproductforuseonchildren,sincedatadonotshowanydifferenceineffectsbetweenyounganimalsandadultanimalsintestsdoneforproductregistration.TherealsoarenodatashowingincidentsthatwouldleadustobelievethereisaneedtorestricttheuseofDEET.Alwaysstoreinsectrepellentssafelyoutofthereachofchildren.IfyouareconcernedaboutusingrepellentproductsonchildrenyoumaywishtoconsultahealthcareproviderforadviceorcontacttheNationalPesticideInformationCenter(NPIC)  orthroughtheirtoll-freenumber,1-800-858-7378.MaximizingEffectivenessApplyandre-applyarepellentaccordingtothelabelinstructions.Don'toverusetheproducts,butbesuretoapplytheamountofrepellentindicatedbythelabel.Ifyoudon'tfollowthelabeldirections,theproductmaynotbeaseffectiveasyouexpect.Thelabelontheinsectrepellentproductisyourguidetousingtheseproductssafelyandeffectively. Theeffectivenessoftheproductcanvaryduetoconditionssuchas: Physicalactivity/perspiration. Waterexposure. Airtemperature. Howattractiveyouaretomosquitoesandticks;everypersonisdifferent. LookforanEPAregistrationnumber(EPAReg.No.)ontheinsectrepellentproductlabel.ThisregistrationnumbermeansthecompanyprovidedEPAwithtechnicalinformationontheeffectivenessoftheproduct.TheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC)recommendstheuseofproductsregisteredbyEPA.Readmoreaboutpesticideingredientsusedinrepellents.AdditionalInformationAboutSafeUseofInsectRepellents InsectRepellentUseandSafety-CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC) Traveler'sHealth:MosquitoandTickProtection-CDC RepellentsandChildren-AmericanAcademyofPediatrics  DEETGeneralFactSheet-NPIC  ContactUstoaskaquestion,providefeedback,orreportaproblem. LastupdatedonJune8,2021