Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use insect repellent?
Insect repellents can help reduce exposure to mosquito bites that may carry viruses such as West Nile virus and EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) that can cause serious illness and even death. Using insect repellent allows you to continue to play and work outdoors with a reduced risk of mosquito bites.(CDC)
When should I use mosquito repellent?
Apply repellent when you are going to be outdoors. Even if you don't notice mosquitoes there is a good chance that they are around. Many of the mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus bite between dusk and dawn. If you are outdoors around these times of the day, it is especially important to apply repellent. In many parts of the country, there are mosquitoes that also bite during the day, and some of these mosquitoes have also been found to carry West Nile virus. (CDC)
I live in an area with ticks and am concerned about Lyme disease, what precautions should I take? Which repellent do you recommend?
To repel ticks, the CDC recommends using insect repellent with DEET (Ben's® Tick & Insect Repellent) or Picaradin (Natrapel 8 hour) and clothing.  

You should also follow these recommendations:
  • Wear long pants, long sleeves, and long socks to keep ticks off your skin.
  • Light-colored clothing will help you spot ticks more easily.
  • Tucking pant legs into socks or boots and tucking shirts into pants help keep ticks on the outside of clothing.
  • If you'll be outside for an extended period of time, tape the area where your pants and socks meet to prevent ticks from crawling under your clothes.
  • Ticks prefer wooded and bushy areas with high grass and a lot of leaf litter. These are areas to avoid.
  • Take extra precautions in May, June, and July. This is when ticks that transmit Lyme disease are most active.
  • If you do enter a tick area, walk in the center of the trail to avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush, and leaf litter.
  • Ask your local health department and park or extension service about tick infested areas to avoid. (CDC/ EPA)
Can insect repellents be used by pregnant or nursing women?
Other than the routine precautions (see response to question 5), the EPA does not recommend specific precautions for using registered repellents on pregnant or lactating women.
Can I use an insect repellent and a product containing sunscreen at the same time? What are the recommendations for combination sunscreen/insect repellent products?
Yes. People can, and should, use both a sunscreen and an insect repellent when they are outdoors. Follow the instructions on the package for proper application of each product. In general, the recommendation is to apply sunscreen first, followed by repellent.
How should I apply repellent? What precautions should I take?
EPA recommends the following precautions when using insect repellents:
  • Read the entire label before using a repellent. Even if you have used it before, read the label again and follow all instructions on the label.
  • Follow use directions carefully, use only the amount directed, at the time and under the conditions specified, and for the purpose listed. For example, if you need a tick repellent, make sure that the product label lists this use. If ticks are not listed, the product may not be formulated for that use.
  • Store pesticides out of the reach of children, in a locked utility cabinet or garden shed.
  • Follow use directions carefully, use only the amount directed, at the time and under the conditions specified, and for the purpose listed. For example, if you need a tick repellent, make sure that the product label lists this use. If ticks are not listed, the product may not be formulated for that use.
  • Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label). Do not use under clothing.
  • Never use repellents over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
  • Do not apply to eyes and mouth, and apply sparingly around ears. When using sprays do not spray directly onto face; spray on hands first and then apply to face.
  • Do not allow children to handle the products, and do not apply directly to a child's hands. When using on children, apply to your own hands and then put it on the child.
  • Do not spray in enclosed areas. Avoid breathing a repellent spray, and do not use it near food.
  • Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Heavy application and saturation is generally unnecessary for effectiveness; if biting insects do not respond to a thin film of repellent, then apply a bit more.
  • After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days. Also, wash treated clothing before wearing it again. If you suspect that you or your child are reacting to an insect repellent, discontinue use, wash treated skin, and then call your local poison control center. If/when you go to a doctor, take the repellent with you.
How do I choose the right repellent?
Where can I find more information about insect repellents and recommendations on how to protect my family from insect borne diseases?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: (404) 639-3534 / (800) 311-3435
www.cdc.gov

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
www.epa.gov

For additional information, we suggest that you contact the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC). NPIC is an EPA-sponsored hotline which provides a variety of impartial information on all pesticides. NPIC provides chemical, health and environmental information on the 600+ active ingredients incorporated into over 50,000 different pesticide products, toxicological information, product label information, cleanup and disposal procedures, and general information on the regulations of pesticides in the United States.

NPIC Environmental and Molecular Toxicology
Oregon State University
333 Weniger Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331-6502
Phone: 1-800-858-7378
What is an Eco-Spray can?
Eco-Spray cans, such as the Ben's® 30 package and Natrapel® 8 hour, provide a continuous spray for application. The eco-friendly delivery system uses compressed air instead of chemical propellants.
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