Monday, 22 July 2013

Stay Protected By Selecting the Right Insect Repellent

Insect repellents are products that are manufactured to protect from insect attacks, especially when outdoors. These are either applied on the skin or clothing or other surfaces to prevent the pests from coming near the body.

Insect stung or bites can really cause discomfort in the body as they lead to red swellings on the skin. In the worst cases people may need medical attention as some pests like mosquitoes can transmit deadly diseases like Malaria, Dengue. So it is always better to use insect repellents which are readily available in all leading stores.


Lotion or spray based repellents are mostly common used by people which if applied on the body or clothing gives off a very strong odor which the insects generally hate. Some of these products are made from chemicals like DEET or Picaridin which can effectively ward off the bugs for nearly 8 hours. But then doctors advise not to use them regularly and should not be applied on children as studies have proved them to be quite harmful. The Natural Mosquito Repellent repellents are thus its replacement which not only keeps the bugs away but also soothes the skin as they contain essential oils. The only problem with these products is that they have to be applied at regular intervals as their action only lasts more than 2 hours. The electronic repellents which work on ultrasound are known to work for a larger area, which thus helps in keeping the whole house insect free.

Though the market is flooded with commercial repellents, still many are also seen to rely on the homemade products made from natural products.

Wednesday, 17 July 2013

The Dangers of Using DEET based Mosquito Repellents

Mosquito bites can lead to serious health issues be it a simple skin rash or some life taking diseases. The main problem is that they can be found anywhere, within the house or outdoors, making human beings susceptible to their bites. The breeding places of these tiny creatures are stagnant waters, beach areas, estuaries or swamps. Thus mosquito repellent is the best way to stay protected from these pests.

Many types of repellents are available in the market, out of which the DEET based ones are the most popular. DEET is basically a chemical called diethyl toluamide which has proven to be a very effective pesticide. It can repel mosquitoes, ticks, sand flies or gnats by their very strong odor. The best thing is that they repel the pests from human beings without killing them. Now high concentrations of DEET are used in the repelling lotions or sprays but then studies have found them to be quite harmful for mankind.



Due to the prolonged usage of the high concentrated DEET based Mosquito Insect Repellent studies have found that there is less psychological clearness among most people. They suffer from irritability, mood swings, insomnia and impaired cognitive system. One of the common side effects of these chemical based repellents is skin infections on people with very sensitive skin. Medical expert suggests not using them on children or pregnant women as they are vulnerable to any kind of side effects. It is always better to read the instructions before applying them on the body.

Now the market is also flooded with many naturally manufactured products which not only repels the mosquitoes but also do not lead to any kind of side effects.

Monday, 1 July 2013

Some Plants that are Known to Repel Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes though are smaller in size, but their one bite can lead to dangerous outcomes. These tiny pests, generally the female mosquitoes feed on blood and thus transmit some dangerous diseases into the human system.

For this reason many kinds of mosquito repellents are available commercially which are sold in the form of lotions or sprays. The chemical based repellents are often used by the people, but of late studies have revealed that they have dangerous effects on human beings. Today many repellent manufacturers are using natural ingredients, which are safe for human beings as well as works great in warding off the mosquitoes.


Though these commercial Insect Repellent are widely used, many are now seen to grow some mosquito repelling plants in their garden or open areas near the homes. Citronella is a very common plant which repels mosquitoes, in fact it is also used in the anti mosquito creams. This clump grass gives off a strong smell which keeps the insects away. Marigold is regarded as an ornamental plant for gardens which is also very effective in repelling mosquitoes with its strong aroma. Most people plant them in pots near their doors and windows which deters the pests from entering the house. The Catnip is said to be ten times more effective than DEET which is easy to grow in gardens or backyards.

The extracts of these plants are used in the natural repellents available in the market, but they are more effective when planted keeping the whole surrounding mosquito free.