How to use mosquito repellent safely?

Mosquito bites not only cause itching and discomfort, but also are a source of transmission of some dangerous diseases for health such as dengue fever, malaria,... Therefore, the use of drugs or mosquito repellent cream is essential when Take part in outdoor activities or sightseeing. However, when used can cause unwanted effects on the body. Knowing the principles of safe use of mosquito repellent is important.

When using any drug into the body, everyone also needs to know the composition of the drug. With mosquito repellents, in any dosage form: creams, gels, topical solutions to lotions, sprays, ... of any manufacturer, they all share some common ingredients. The main chemistry part is as follows:
1.1. DEET DEET is a chemical ingredient that is considered as a very good insect repellent, with the lowest percentage of the drug ingredient being about 15% along with some other ingredients. However, even at a low rate, DEET chemicals can also cause damage to the skin.
1.2. Picaridin With mosquito repellents in sprays, lotions, or wipes, picaridin is another EPA-approved ingredient that works well as a skin barrier against mosquitoes. It's a plant-based chemical compound that you can find in mosquito repellent products like Cutter Advanced and Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus. Mosquito repellent ingredients are safe for everyone including children and pregnant women.

1.3. IR3535 IR3535 is a man-made anti-mosquito compound found in many anti-mosquito products. This compound is EPA approved as safe for both children and pregnant women and works to keep mosquitoes off the skin for several hours.
1.4. Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Lemon eucalyptus oil with the chemical name OLE is EPA approved and effective for repelling mosquitoes. You can see this ingredient in its synthetic versions like Repel and Off
However, using "pure" OLE (plain, unprocessed oil) is dangerous for the skin. It has not been tested for safety and is not recommended by the EPA.
1.5. 2-undecanone Chemical 2-undecanone, also known as BioUD, is derived from tomato fruit. It is available in the composition of Bite Blocker and according to some studies it works as well as products with 30% DEET.

2.1. The risk of respiratory damage When using mosquito repellent sprays on the face and neck, the spray can be mixed into the air and easily penetrate the body through the respiratory tract and cause harm to health. user.
2.2. Risk of chemical exposure When exposed skin areas such as new mosquito bites on the skin, old mosquito bites scratched, ... exposed to mosquito repellents, the body is at risk of chemical exposure to these open areas. Recent reports indicate that the common symptoms of DEET poisoning in children are headache, tremor, loss of control, seizures, and convulsions. Most of the toxicity reported by DEET exposure involved children under 8 years of age.

2.3. Mosquito repellent can be harmful to the skin Using mosquito repellent only works for a certain period of time, when the medicine is gone, you must reapply. Continuously applying the drug for a long time and applying a lot can also harm the skin. Some undesirable effects may be encountered such as an allergic reaction (reddening, burning, scaly skin) or allergic skin reaction (swollen, red, itchy skin, small blisters or blisters) pus...). Cases of atopic dermatitis (both children and adults) can make the surface of the skin more sensitive.
In case of side effects on the skin, it can also cause a very itchy feeling and pain when there is pus. When the pruritic papules subside, depigmentation or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is often left but is usually hyperpigmentation. Others may experience both white new wounds and old bruises. The bruises are usually very persistent and if the mosquito bites continuously, the bruises appear more and more. If you scratch or rub a lot, the bruises will also thicken, become rough and look very unsightly. When this condition recurs often, it can lead to serious skin problems such as atopic dermatitis, infection, swelling... Therefore, you need to be careful when using mosquito repellent products.

Children are subjects with thin skin and relatively sensitive skin, especially with drugs applied to the skin. Some synthetic chemicals in mosquito repellent ingredients can be dangerous to the baby's body when they get inside the baby's skin. To use mosquito repellent safely, there are a few things to keep in mind:
For babies younger than 6 months old, do not use any products containing DEET on babies. For babies over 6 months old, avoid using mosquito repellent applied directly to the skin. Do not use mosquito repellent on children's hands, as many children frequently put their hands in their mouths. Some drugs, mosquito repellent creams have fragrances with very strong concentrations, which are easy to cause allergies for baby's sensitive skin. You should use a liquid or cream medicine instead of a spray. When you want to use mosquito repellent on clothes, spray when the child is not around and about 30 minutes before they wear it. When it is not necessary to apply medicine to the child anymore, it is necessary to bathe the child, clean the skin that has been applied medicine to remove harmful chemicals.

Before using on the whole body, it is recommended to test it on a small area of ​​skin on the inside of the arm. If there is no irritation, rash, then use the spray for the whole body. Absolutely do not spray directly on the body, but should spray first on hands and rub evenly on areas at risk of mosquito bites. When applying mosquito repellent, it is necessary to avoid the area of ​​​​the eyes, nose, mouth, and open wounds. Mosquito repellent can be applied to other items such as clothing, blankets, mats, nets... also for anti-mosquito effects. Only use drugs when absolutely necessary such as going to unfamiliar places, endemic areas or traveling.... Limit the use of mosquito repellents, only use when absolutely necessary such as going to unfamiliar places, traveling. When using mosquito repellent, everyone needs to use the drug in the right way so that the drug can be fully effective, and users are safe. In addition to the above measures, you can refer to the use of some plant-based products that also have the effect of repelling mosquitoes such as mosquito repellant from soybean oil, lasting for a period of 1.5-2 hours. Other essential oils such as citronella, peppermint, lemongrass, cedar, geranium or eucalyptus oils also have this effect in the short term.