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Repellent: understand how to use and if natural repellents are effective

Repellent: understand how to use and if natural repellents are effective

If before it was common for people to worry about insect bites only when they went to the beach or field, repellent use has now become a necessary item for protection. An example of a disease-transmitting agent is the Aedes aegypti mosquito, responsible for the epidemic of zika virus and dengue, in addition to transmitting chikungunya fever and yellow fever. To prevent mosquito contamination, repellent is the most effective weapon. "The skin is a natural barrier of the body, but the mosquito is able to break it with its bite, so it is important to prevent it," explains dermatologist Ana Mósca, director of the Society of Dermatology of Rio de Janeiro (SBDRJ) .

The problem with repellent is that it is a toxic product, and needs to be used with care. To help our readers protect themselves best, we talk to two experts and write a guide. Check below.

Types of repellent and indications

The first step is to understand which repellent to use. "Today there are three types of repellent in Brazil that have different durations and effects," explains dermatologist Giovana Moraes, MD, a member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD) and the European Society of Dermatology and Venereology. Differentiate each of them:

Woman looking at product label - Photo: Getty Images

Icaridina Today, this active principle is considered the most effective against Aedes aegypti. That's because in concentrations between 20 to 25% it can have a duration of up to 10 hours but this is also influenced by the heat and sweat of the body.

DEET This is one of the most common active ingredients in repellents, it can be used in concentrations of 10 to 15% for adults or 6 to 9% for children over two years. "But it only becomes completely effective when concentrated above 50%, an option that does not exist in Brazil," says Ana Mósca. In general, it has a shorter duration of up to six hours, which can be reduced in hot and sweaty conditions.

IR3535 This active principle of repellents is the only one recommended for children aged six months and two years. In general it is sold in concentrations of 20%, which is equivalent to the protection offered by DEET at 10%.

Under 6 months

And children under 6 months? In case repellents are not indicated, due to toxicity of its components. Therefore, the ideal is to find other ways to protect them. "Long-sleeved clothes are good options, which also protect the child from sun exposure and the use of mosquito nets at home," says Giovana Moraes.

Permethrin is another interesting option. This repellent substance can be applied to fabrics if purchased in 0.5% solutions. "The advantage is that it can last several days, unlike ordinary repellents. In the trade there are clothes already with this component, mainly in stores of hunting and fishing, but it is simpler to buy the spray and to apply in the own clothes, consider dermatologist Ana.

What should I look at the packaging?

The best way to know the composition of your repellent is to look at the packaging before you buy. "Usually the information of the active principles is broken down into the ingredients, including their concentration", explains Giovana Moraes. However, the duration is usually written on the front of the package, which helps to get a sense of the potency of the product.

When choosing your repellent, be careful with its odor. "Mosquitoes are often attracted to perfumes, so odorless repellents are often more beneficial," explains the specialist.

Does the same repellent protect from mosquitoes and mosquitoes?

All active insect repellents startle mosquitoes and mosquitoes in the same way, so you'll already be protected. "There is no guarantee of effectiveness against moths or wasps, but the other insects that usually sting the skin are usually repelled satisfactorily," says Ana Mósca.

How to apply repellent

Repellent is important, but when used in large amounts their substances can be toxic, so you need to know a few details before applying it on the body.

Person spraying repellent on hands - Photo: Getty Images

Caring for

When using repellent it is important that it be the last item to be applied. "When you pass it before sunscreen or some moisturizer, and then apply the second product on top, it loses its effect," warns Ana Mósca.

Also, it is important to apply it away from the mucous membranes of the face , such as eyes and mouth. "But be sure to pass on the face, after all though rare, it is an exposed region that can be stung," recalls Giovana.

Another important care is to use the repellent only on exposed skin areas. "The clothes are already a natural protection against mosquitoes and mosquitoes, so applying the product underneath them will only leave you exposed to a greater quantity of product without necessity", emphasizes Giovana. After all, as much as the skin serves as a barrier, it can absorb the product and do harm. Another point is that it is not necessary to apply the repellent throughout the entire skin, to pass in a large area already protects in others. For example, if you apply the repellent to your thighs and shins, but forget to apply it to your knees, they will be protected as well.

Child Precautions

Children are even more sensitive to repellent products, so it is important to take some application care. "Parents should never apply the spray directly to the child's skin, should always be passed first on the hands and then on the child's skin," advises the dermatologist Ana. This is because there is more risk of the child sucking the repellent when applied in this way

Woman applying repellent - Photo: Getty Images

Reapplications

Another important care is with reapplications. Contrary to popular belief, repellents can only be reapplied a few times a day, just because overexposure to their substances can harm the skin. Here are just how many applications are recommended by age:

  • Children under 2 years: 1 application per day
  • Children up to 7 years: 2 applications per day
  • From 7 years and adults: 3 applications day.

But how can we guarantee protection if it can only be reapplied so rarely? According to Ana Mósca, the key is to choose key times to protect yourself. "If the intention is to protect against aedes aegypti, the ideal is to choose to pass the repellent in the beginning of the morning and at the end of the day, times when the mosquito usually circulates in the environment ?, reinforces

Regarding the time of sleep, the Brazilian Society of Dermatology always recommends taking a bath before bed to remove the repellent from the body.To protect the night, it is worth investing in the electrical repellents, the ones you put in the socket, or apply the common repellent in screens on the windows , which prevents mosquitoes from entering, but always make sure that the screen is new, because over time the fibers will wear out, allowing the insects to pass through.Air conditioning and fans are also indirect mosquito repellents. Natural is effective?

Natural oils lined in pots - Photo: Getty Images

Since repellents are toxic products, some natural items have been indicated. In an official note, they warn that "products such as citronella candles, clove oil or andiroba, among others, contrary to what many people think, have no proven efficacy in combating the Aedes aegypt mosquito, since they have an indeterminate and temporary effect." Understand better how each of them works and its limitations:

Natural Oils

Oils can make physical barriers against bites, preventing them from reaching the skin. The action of pure oil on the body, however, is not as effective as industrialized chemical repellents, but can serve as an alternative for those who can not use ordinary repellents. In addition, products containing oils have been made: "In the United States soybean oils and lemon eucalyptus are used and have shown results," points out Ana Mósca. Citronella and andiroba

Oils such as citronella and andiroba appear to be effective, but no studies yet prove their efficacy scientifically. But the main problem is its duration: "these compounds are very volatile, therefore evaporate quickly and last a short time in the skin, especially in the heat," stresses Mósca. So, even if they protect it, this barrier will last a very short time in the body. Complex B vitamins:

Many people believe that consuming vitamin B complex supplements can help ward off mosquitoes by changing the odor of sweat, the main feature that attracts or repels insects. "In the past this technique was used a lot, but an American study tried to measure it and realized that there is not an exact amount of vitamins, the quantity and the repellent action varied greatly from person to person, so they could not prove the effectiveness of that substance "Ana Moss explains. Alternative measures to repellent

In addition to releasing repellent hands, other precautions may prevent bites. "Mosquitoes are often attracted to colorful clothing and perfumes, so avoid the two items if you are in endemic areas," explains dermatologist Giovana.

In addition, the Brazilian Society of Dermatology indicates the use of electrical repellents near the doors and windows and also the use of ventilators and air conditioning, which act indirectly when mosquitoes are scared away.

Finally, avoiding mosquito breeding grounds is the most important item. Do not let standing water collect on bottles, tires, flower pots, water boxes, and other containers. The mosquito breeds only in clean water, and avoiding these foci helps prevent them from breeding.


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