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Insect Repellent Clothing

 


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How to Choose an Insect Repellent That's Right for YOU and YOUR Family

Summer can be full of pleasant sounds – birds chirping, lawnmowers whirring, children playing. But the sound of mosquitoes buzzing in for the kill is not one of them. That sound is more than just annoying, because mosquitoes, biting flies and ticks can and do pose a serious risk to public health, as seen with West Nile virus and Lyme disease.

One way to help prevent that risk is to use insect repellent when spending time outdoors. Several varieties are available, including aerosol and pump-spray insect repellents that are sprayed onto skin and clothing. While liquid, cream, lotion, spray and stick repellents are applied directly to skin, there is an innovative new product that combines permethrin, a man-made form of a natural insect repellent found in the chrysanthemum plant, with a new patent pending process. Through this patent-pending process, permethrin is tightly bonded to the clothing to provide effective protection from biting insects and bugs. When insects are exposed to this repellent their neurons are agitated, rendering them unable to coordinate voluntary muscles (ataxia), and thus unable to attack. Unlike traditional insect repellents, Insect Repellent Clothing puts the insect repellent on the clothes you wear, not on your skin.

Here are some comparative merits and risks of common insect repellents:

DEET

Deet is by far the most commonly used insect repellent in the world. This is because it is the most effective repellent against mosquitoes and ticks. After researching hundreds of compounds, Deet (N, N-Diethyl-M-Toluamide) was selected by the USDA and the U.S. military as the most economical compound to use. After more than forty years of worldwide use, Deet has a remarkable record.

For some people, however, exposure to high levels of Deet can cause headaches, restlessness, crying spells, mania, staggering, abnormally rapid breathing, convulsions and coma. Wade said children could be especially sensitive and should use only repellents that contain no more than 15 percent Deet.

Permethrin

Used by itself or with skin applied insect repellents to build the ultimate protective barrier. Permethrin (pyrethrin) is a contact insecticide. That is, it kills ticks or other insects when it comes in contact with them. It is used on clothing and materials and, most recently, in insect repellent clothing. It uses the same active ingredient used in hair shampoos for head lice. When applied to clothing the Permethrin binds to the fabric eliminating the risk of over-exposure to the skin. Though FDA approved for use on skin and in clothing, skin contact deactivates Permethrin within fifteen minutes.

DEET and Permethrin

Studies have shown that when an effective Deet repellent is applied to the skin and Permethrin treated clothing is worn, almost 100% protection can be achieved against insect bites. In one recent study by the U.S. military in Alaska using full body coverage of clothing and mosquito netting in extreme density of mosquitoes, permethrin treated body covering alone kept the mosquitoes away a few inches. With the added spatial repellency of Deet, the pesky critters were kept away up to a foot, allowing the study participants to eat without swallowing insects. Deet and permethrin together offered 99.9% protection against mosquito bites even under these most rigorous conditions. In another study in the late 1980s, 100% protection was achieved against mosquito bites. In all studies, 100% protection has been shown against ticks when Deet and Permethrin are used in combination.

Insect Repellent Clothing

Clothing protection is dramatically increased when the fabric is sprayed or impregnated with a chemical that will either repel or directly kill any insect that alights on the fabric. Both DEET and permethrin are used as clothing treatments, but DEET has been largely replaced for this purpose by the more effective permethrin.

Insect Repellent Clothing featuring BUZZ OFF's Insect Shield Insect Repellent Apparel is an innovative new product that combines permethrin, a man-made form of a natural insect repellent found in the chrysanthemum plant, with a new patent pending process. Through this patent-pending process, permethrin is tightly bonded to the clothing to provide effective protection from biting insects and bugs. When insects are exposed to this repellent their neurons are agitated, rendering them unable to coordinate voluntary muscles (ataxia), and thus unable to attack.