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Tick and Mosquito Repellent Guide

This article provides information about EPA-registered products and a few unregistered products that can be used to repel ticks and mosquitoes.

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Updated:

May 10, 2022

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EPA - Registered Products

Active Ingredient	Type	Duration of Effectiveness	Number of EPA-Registered Products	Use on Children	Recommended Concentration
DEET	Synthetic chemical compound	2 - 8 hours	>500	Recommended for use on children 2 months and older	25 - 40%
Picaridin	Synthetic chemical compound	3 - 10 hours	40	Recommended for use children 2 months and older	10 - 20%
IR3535	Synthesized equivalent of ß-alanine (biorepellent)	4 - 6 hours	45	Recommended for use children 2 months and older	20%
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus*	Synthesized plant oil from lemon-scented gum tree	2 - 5 hours	6	Recommended for use on children 3 years old and older	30%
2-Undecanone	Synthesized chemical derived from wild tomato	2 - 4 hours	1	Consult the product label	7.75%

*Oil of lemon eucalyptus is a synthetic concentration of para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), which repels some insects and ticks. Lemon eucalyptus essential oil does not have the same repellent effects due to its very low concentration of PMD.

Unregistered Products

Active Ingredient	Type	Duration of Effectiveness	Number of EPA-Registered Products	Use on Children	Recommended Concentration
EPA Minimum Risk Determination	Citronella oil, cedar oil, geranium oil, peppermint and peppermint oil, soybean oil	These active ingredients posed minimal risk to human health in the percentages found in products on the market and are exempt from registration. Repellents that do not bear an EPA registration number have not been evaluated for effectiveness or safety.
Essential Oils/Other Ingredients	Products that are not registered with the EPA or do not have ingredients that qualify as minimum risk have not been evaluated for safety or effectiveness and are not recommended as tick and mosquito repellents.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency. 2021. "Repellents: Protection against Mosquitoes, Ticks and Other Arthropods." Page last updated September 14, 2021.

This guide is for informational purposes only. Always read and follow the label of individual repellents for precautions and proper application instructions. To find a repellent that is right for you, visit Find the Repellent that is Right for You.

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