Is DEET Bug Spray Safe?

DEET is one of the few insect-repellant chemicals that has proven to provide reliable protection from mosquitos, ticks, and other pesky insects. But given the intensity of the chemical, just how safe is DEET on your body?

DEET, known to chemists as N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, appears in at least 120 products registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Those include insect-repellant sprays, mists, lotions, and wipes.

Since the public debut of DEET in 1957, the EPA has twice conducted extensive reviews of the chemical’s safety profile.

However, some patients are shying away from these products and gravitate towards options that are marketed as “natural” or “plant-based,” said Bethany Huelskoetter, APRN, DNP, a family nurse practitioner at OSF Healthcare.

While those alternative insect repellants may be marketed to seem less toxic, they often do not remain effective for as long as DEET.

“Sometimes you can’t get away from the more chemical-based repellents,” Huelskoetter told Verywell. DEET “is a fantastic insect repellent. Of everything on the market, you’re going to get more bang for your buck.”

Using an effective insect repellant can reduce the risk of getting itchy and uncomfortable insect bites. But it can also be a preventive health tool: Nearly half a million people get Lyme disease after a tick bite each year, and an estimated 7 million people have been infected with mosquito-borne West Nile virus since it first appeared in the U.S. in 1999.

How DEET Compares to Natural Bug Sprays

According to Consumer ReportsDEET is consistently considered the most effective active ingredient in insect repellants at concentrations of at least 25%. Generally speaking, the higher the concentration of DEET in a product, the longer the protection will last.

Other options for insect repellant include picaridin, permethrin, and PMD, which is lemon eucalyptus oil.

In a 2023 study of 20 essential oil-based insect repellants, the oils rarely held their protection for more than an hour and a half, with some losing their effectiveness after less than a minute. In contrast, a DEET-based solution repelled mosquitos for at least six hours.

Adverse reactions to DEET are rare, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). In a 2017 reportthe agency said that 88% of DEET exposures reported to poison control centers did not cause symptoms that required people to be treated in the health care system. About half of the people experienced no ill effects of the exposure, and most of the rest had mild symptoms, like drowsiness, skin irritation, or temporary cough, which resolved quickly.

Severe reactions to DEET most often cause neurological symptoms like seizures, poor muscle control, aggressive behavior, and impaired cognitive function.

“Considering the many millions of applications of DEET per year in the United States, there have been limited reports of serious health effects following DEET applications,” the ATSDR report said.

Best Practices for Using DEET

Insect repellants can be a useful tool to protect against mosquito- and tick-borne diseases.

You can also avoid insect bites by wearing long-sleeved clothing and removing or avoiding any insect breeding grounds, such as stagnant water, from your yard and other areas where you spend lots of time.

If you choose to use a DEET-based product, follow the instructions on the product label. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you should use the minimum concentration of DEET needed to maintain protection—not more than 50%.

To minimize the risk of inhaling the repellant, the CDC recommends applying it in a well-ventilated area rather than in a confined space. To apply it to the face, spray the product onto your hands and then rub it onto your face.

Huelskoetter said it’s best to apply DEET-based repellants after getting dressed.

“You want your skin to be able to breathe once it’s been applied to it, just for the proper ventilation so you don’t get skin irritation,” she added.

DEET is safe for children, but the CDC recommends against allowing children younger than 10 to apply the repellant themselves. Children under two months of age should not be treated with DEET-based products.

Importantly, if you ever breathe in or swallow DEET-based products, or if it gets into your eyes, call poison control immediately.