East of Eden
ABOUT INSECT REPELLENTS
Those traveling to Jamaica for the first time will be happy to know that despite what you might think, mosquitoes are usually far less a problem on the tropical island than in your own backyard in North America. They tend to be smaller and quicker and the bites are just as itchy but there just aren't as many and they do not swarm around you all night as they do in North America where the breeding season is shorter and the blood gathering biting is non-stop. That said, even one mosquito can make life miserable when it's buzzing in your ear or if you have severe reactions to insect bites AND there are also sand fleas to worry about. (More about them later)
According to an American College of Physicians and the American Society of Internal Medicine (ACP/ASIM) report, mosquitoes are attracted to people by a large variety of natural body chemical smells, the carbon dioxide exhaled, body temperature and many other things which have not been been effectively studied. Some people are definitely more attractive to mosquitoes than others but there are so many variables that it would be prohibitively expensive to find out why a particular individual is candy to mosquitoes and for that reason we have to use insect repellents. The ACP/ASIM report also said that children and older people are bitten less by mosquitoes.
The most effective insect repellents contain N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide commonly known as DEET, a chemical that is absorbed into the body through the skin. DEET is used safely worldwide by hundreds of millions of people, 50-80 million in the US alone, but in a very small number of people DEET can cause severe reactions including seizures and very rarely, rarely death especially when overused or misused.
Products containing DEET should not be used on children under two and sparingly on children under six. A low level (10%) DEET repellent should be used on childrenand never applied to their hands which often wind up in their mouths.
TIPS FOR USE
· Do not apply to broken skin.
· Keep away from eyes, mouth, naughty bits, any mucous tissue.
· To apply a spray containing DEET to your face, spray it on your hand, spread on your face and then wash your hands.
· Avoid breathing mist (DUH!).
· Use DEET products on exposed
skin only, not under clothing which increases absorption.
· Always use the lowest level DEET product that is effective
for you.
· DEET is okay on fabrics such as cotton, wool and nylon but can damage spandex, rayon, acetate, plastic, paint, car seats, plastic eyeglass frames and lenses.
The various brands of repellent contain differing percentages of DEET and brands with a higher percentage of DEET will protect for a longer period of time.
!00% DEET products such as DEEP WOODS OFF will protect for up to 10 hours, Muskol Ultra (40% DEET) will protect for up to seven hours. OFF Skintastic With Sunscreen (10%) three hours. In Jamaica, the mosquitoes are a usually a problem only after sunset (unless you're out in the deep bush), can be quite intense for an hour or so and then less so later in the evening. I find that minimal use of a 10% DEET product such as Skintastic or Cutters works fine for me out in the Sheffield countryside but some people are just more attractive to mosquitoes and will need a higher percentage DEET product to keep the mini-vampires away. If a 10% works for you but you'll be out long into the evening, just remember to reapply after three hours or if you start to get bitten. Sometimes just spraying under your chair and table will do the trick and that way you minimize your exposure to DEET AND your lover can kiss various body parts without getting a mouthful of lip-numbing DEET
SAND FLEAS
If you're going to be sitting out on the beach watching the gloriously
romantic Negril sunset or on a cloudy or drizzly day, be sure
to apply repellent to your feet and legs, especially the backs
of your thighs because the SAND FLEAS come out to bite when the
sand cools down. Many, many unsuspecting tourists find themselves
sitting on the sand at the end of a beautiful day, a lickle high,
watching that sun go down and often not feeling the little sand
fleas as they bite and then find themselves all red spotted and
ITCHY when they get back to their room. The next day they look
like they have a case of measles so you always know who was drunk
and/or fell asleep on the beach.
BRANDS, ACTIVE INGREDIENTS AND LENGTH OF PROTECTION
Bearing in mind the warnings on DEET, the following is a list of repellents tested by Consumers Union, the publishers of Consumer's Report, their DEET content and the number of hours each is effective. Note that both of the longest effective products (Ultrathon and Deep Woods OFF) repel bites for 10-12 hours but that Ultrathon contains only 33% DEET while Deep Woods OFF contains 100% DEET.
· Ultrathon (used by US Armed Forces)/
33% /12 hours.
· Deep Woods OFF/ 100% / 10 hours
· Muskol Ultra/ 40% / 7 hours
· Ben's Backyard Formula/ 25% / 6 hours
· Sawyer Controlled Release/ 20% / 4 hours
· Bugout Aerosol/ 15% / 4 hours
· OFF Skintastic w/sunscreen/ 10% / 3 hours
· Cutter Unscented Aerosol/ 10% / 3 hours
NON-DEET PRODUCTS
· Biteblocker Light Country Scent
w/2% soybean oil / 1-4 hours
· Avon Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard pump spray w/citronella /
1/2 hour
· Avon Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535 w/sunguard /
0-2 hours
· Natrapel Pump Spray w/10% Citronella/ 1/2-1 hour
VITAMIN B6
Some people swear by Vitamin B6 and say that taking it regularly starting a week or two BEFORE going to Jamaica keeps the mosquitoes away but according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control): "Vitamin B and 'ultrasonic' devices are NOT (emphasis theirs) effective in preventing mosquito bites" I suspect successful use of it depends on personal chemistry: how the vitamin reacts with one's personal smells and chemicals and that the effectiveness of Vitamin B6 is not universal as it is with DEET. I'd say give it a try. It doesn't cost much and unlike DEET, the vitamin is good for you in moderation ( but bring a can of your regular bug spray just in case).
FOR USE ON CLOTHES ONLY
· Repel Permanone Clothing And Gear
Aerosol w/ 0.5% Permethrin
(Be sure to read directions, "cannot be applied to clothes
you have on" and other warnings).
FOR BUG LOVERS
· Go out and buy a can of ......ON.
For more information on mosquitoes and repellents check out:,
For DEET information try:
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