Summer is here, and so are the mosquitoeswhich means it's time to break out the bug spray. But is it safe to slather your skin with chemicals meant to ward off insects?
Many people worry that the chemicals in bug sprayespecially the strongest onescan cause cancer.
Read MoreFirst of all, the bug sprays you buy in the drug store have all been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which means that they've been tested to make sure they're safe.
But they've also proved themselves safe in studies that look at cancer risk.
Studies have specifically looked into insect repellant and the risk for Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and soft tissue sarcomas, and didn’t find a link.
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What about DEET?
And when it comes to DEETone of the most powerful (and effective) insect-repelling chemicals with one of the worst reputations, "bad-for-you"-wisethe potential irritations you could experience such as skin rashes or a temporary numbness probably aren't dangerous. Instead, they're more likely to be the result of your skin's sensitivity, or maybe that you got the chemicals in a cut or an area that is already irritated.
DEET is one of the most common active ingredients found in bug sprays; bug spray brands such as “OFF!”, “Coleman,” and “Ben’s” all use it in many of their products, though the concentration of DEET may vary from bug spray to bug spray.
The EPA’s official position is that DEET is “not classifiable as a human carcinogen.” (“Carcinogen” is a word used to describe any substance that is known to cause cancer.) The EPA determined DEET’s safety in 1998, and then did so again in a comprehensive review in 2014.
Jonathan Day, a professor of entomology at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences told TIME magazine that DEET is almost always harmless when it's applied appropriately. “It is very safe,” Day said. “Some people are sensitive and may have a skin reaction”which could include an itchy or swollen rash”but it's not harmful otherwise.”
Having said that, it's important to focus on those key words: “applied appropriately.” DEET is a strong chemical, and experts say it's probably best to use it in moderation (sporadically throughout the summer months, for instance) and to spray it on a normal amount. This is because the stuff was approved for moderate use; studies have shown it's safe, but they haven't looked into the effects of, say, showering in DEET every day of the week.
Plus, tests have been conducted that found that higher concentrations of DEET doesn't make it any more effective in staving off bugs. Doctors recommend using DEET in concentrations between 20 percent and 50 percent. Studies have also shown that DEET is not harmful for pregnant womenwhich has been another concern in the past.
Why Do People Say It’s Toxic Then?
One of the reasons DEET has a bad reputation for being harmful is because there were several reported cases of people dying from drinking it back in the 1980s (really drinking it, not just getting a little bit on their lips). It goes without saying that drinking bug spray is not a good idea.
Another reason people worry about it is that they incorrectly believe that it works by killing mosquitoswhich would essentially make it a pesticide (something that kills bugs or plants).
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But this isn't how DEET works. How DEET actually works is by binding the receptors in the mosquito's nose that it uses to bite youblocking its ability to do so. This can be helpful to know, because it means that bugs may still land on your skin after you spray DEET, but they probably won't bite you. (Many people think DEET isn't working when they feel bugs landing on them, and might spray morewhich isn't going to help.)
Still, if you'd rather steer clear of the chemicals, the EPA does approve of some bug sprays with more natural ingredients such as pepper extract and lemon eucalyptus. And there are many brands of bug spray that have been formulated for sensitive skin.
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Despite its bad rap, thoughwhich is largely unwarrantedDEET is the most effective bug spray out there, and tick and mosquito-borne illnesses such as Lyme Disease and Malaria are far more dangerous than the chemicals in the bug spray meant to prevent them.
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