Picaridin - An Effective Alternative to Deet
Picaridin is a new repellent for mosquitos and other insects which
is similar in effectiveness to DEET, but more pleasant to use and much
less likely to cause skin irritation. This Piperidine derivitave, developed
by Bayer®,
has been available worldwide since 1998 and is one of the best selling
insect repellents in Europe where it is also known as "Icaridin" and
is marketed under the name Bayrepel®.
As of 2005, Picaridin is now available in the USA.
Testing and Recommendations
In 2000 the World Health Organization proclaimed that, due to its safety,
effectiveness and cosmetic properties, Picaridin was their recommended
product for repelling the mosquitos that carry Malaria.
They noted that under some circumstances it was more effective than DEET.
Dermatological testing has shown that Picaridin is almost odorless and not
irritating to the skin (a major drawback to DEET insect repellents). The
Jan-Feb 2004 issue of the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology declared it to
be "as
effective and less irritating than diethyl toluamide (DEET)".
In 2005 the US Centers for Disease Control revised it's mosquito repellent
recommendations to include Picaridin in their list of products which are
effective in preventing against the transmission of West
Nile Disease.
Also added to the list was a naturally-derived product, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus offer mosquito protection comparable
to low-concentration DEET repellents.
Picaridin has also has been tested
for effects on various household substances and has been shown to cause
no major damage to plastics, sealents, plastic coatings or other
synthetics.
Effective in repelling mosquitos, deer ticks, flies and more
Picaridin has proven effective in laboratory and field tests against a
variety of mosquitos, ticks and flies and other biting insects including:
- Aedes albopictus - Asian Tiger Mosquito
- Aedes aegypti - Yellow Fever Mosquito
- Aedes taeniorhynchus - Black Salt Marsh Mosquito
- Anopheles stephensi, Anopheles sinensis and Anopheles dirus - 3 species
of mosquito found throughout Asia and considered vectors for Malaria.
- Culex pipiens fatigans - House Mosquito
- Ixodes ricinus - Common tick (aka sheep, pasture or castor-bean tick)
- Ixodes scapularis - Deer Tick (carrier of Lyme
Disease)
- Rhipicephalus sanguineus - Brown Dog Tick
- Biting midges (biting gnats)
- Culex quinquefasciatus Tabanidae - Horsefly
- Musca domestica - Housefly
- Simulium venustum - Black Fly
- Stomoxys calcitrans - Stable Fly
These species are known to transmit Lyme Disease,
Malaria, West Nile Disease and other serious health threats.
Summary
Picaridin has been well tested and is recommended by several authorities
as a safe, effective and more pleasant alternative to DEET.
