Avon Skin so Soft bath oil really does work. BUT, you have to put it on by putting a cap full in a tub of water and bathing in it. The effect lasts for a couple days. I find that if I just take it and rub it on somehow a few ticks still seem to make it on to my hide. Guess the bath covers every inch. Never tried it in Alaska. Those Alaskan mosquitos are special. Probably would eat the stuff.

I'm addicted to DEET but I'm trying to cut down. I use the Thermocell like a nicotine patch but sometimes I still light up with DEET. There are places in Florida at certain times of the year where even DEET isn't enough.

Ivory soap works great!

After a particularly heavy year of DEET usage, my DEET-loving brother-in-law started showing signs of ALS (Lou Gherig's disease) including uncontrollable tremors, muscle twitching and muscle weakness. After nearly a year of inconclusive tests in which the symptoms kept getting worse, he saw a specialist who finally diagnosed him with DEET poisoning. He stopped using DEET completely and the symptoms started to subside over a couple-months span.
I still use DEET, but try to keep coverage light and avoid the mouth and nose.

I've been using Deet products for at least 35 years. I don't know the effect on my body. I do know that it will destroy Suunto and Silva compasses, both see through and mirror type. Also, it will dissolve any type of plastic. I switched to the 15 per cent OFF aerosol with the orange cap. It works great.

In case people don't know, DEET does attack fishing line. Not sure about synthetic and "painted" stocks.

i hate bugs

Damm, I thought it was all that "Partying" in the 80's that was causing all my "Problems" but now I can blame DEET!.

If you are worried about bugs, DEET works, but tell me what is manufactured by man that does not cause cancer...seriously, you guys sound like a bunch of pansies. Grow some guts, get out in the woods, and enjoy ALL of nature. I've found if I only worry about what goes in my mouth, nose, ears, and eyes, I worry less, and the bugs seem less bothersome.

The active ingredient in many insect repellents, deet, has been found to be toxic to the central nervous system?

O’really!

Even back in the 80’s, those of us in the Military always said it’s a byproduct of a nerve agent!

Cutters I find works fantastic and BENS 100 is for those who have no clue what they’re doing yet alone should be allowed out of the bedroom, LOL! BENS 100 you apply with your hand then you touch your sunglasses leaving a melted plastic finger print and then later on you rub your eyes and it burns like hell!! I flat out don’t like the stuff!

Now take Permethrin O'I really love this stuff I do, if it crawls it dies! My Brother spayed himself down from head to toe after he got into the middle of a bunch of seed ticks and he discovered they died upon contact with the stuff! Not to be used on the skin because of its toxicity but people do it anyhow!

Steve182- Octagon soap works well for chigger relief for me, not prevention mind you. Most pharmacies don't stock it but will order it for you. Cost less than a dollar a bar. To be clear the soap is called Octagon but is normal bar soap shaped. The lack of that little bit of information led me to believe my uncle was slam loosing his mind.
As for DEET I don't use it much any more because of the Thermacell which I am sure some study will find causes boils and plague in 10 years. Other than that I try to wear cloths to cover up. Physical barriers are way more effective than any chemical. Also while working in the swamps of South Carolina one summer Repel about ate the skin off my neck and arms. But hey its better than bird flu, I guess.

I don't know how bad it really is - it works for me! Maybe it is just something with French people.....? Weird

My yard has lemongrass growing in it all around the house. Lemongrass aka citronella is a natural deterent for mosquitoes. I haven't had any mosquito bites from around my house (and I have a small pond in my back yard)other than that I don't normally use any repellant. There are certain foods that you can eat prior to an outdoor event that will naturally repel mosquitoes (unfortunately I am having a brain fart and can't remember right now). As for chiggars clear finger nail polish is a very effective treatment for them.

Of course DEET is a neuro-toxin! That's what kills the little suckers!
Spray permethian on the clothes and let it dry completely before wearing, then a very LIGHT coat of DEET for the exposed skin. Not the 100% stuff, the lowest you can find.

As with all chemicals, the dose makes the poison. Some folks will get sensitized to DEET and will never be able to wear it again.

When they first released DEET in the 100% concentration, I used it religiously. Hunting in the early seasons in NC, you have to have something to sit in a treestand, or you'll go bonkers.

After a few weeks of the season (I hunted almost every day), I realized that I'd come home from a hunt with a mild nausea and extreme irritability. It took me a while after the weather cooled and the bugs went away to realize that it was my body's response to DEET. As soon as I quit using it, the symptoms went away.

I mostly use Therma-Cell now. I agree with the previous poster that I get a little nervous breathing that stuff, but at least I'm not noticing any ill effects and it DEFINITELY keeps the skeeters and biting flies away.

My family has used Absorbine Jr. for years. Just dab a little here and there on your exposed skin. It is especially effective while fishing around ponds where buffalo gnats are a problem.

When we used to do a lot of nighttime froggin Off was all we had and we usually got ate up by mosquitos but then they came out with Deep Woods Off with deet I believe. In any case it really helped.
Use Deet every night? Hell no. Moderation as they say.

I just carry around my Thermacell and I do not even have to worry about bringing any repellants. I was a little skeptical at first but man does that things work. Especially hog hunting in a stand in the middle of the swamp, saves me from being attacked by all those mosquitoes.

I have used sprays containing deet for years. I don't use it often, I do n ot like to use it but I do notice a considerable difference when I do not use it or I use something that does not conatain DEET. The bigest problem I run into is chiggers and ticks. I will have to try the permethrin spray next time I come across it.

Yes Deet dissolves plastic and quickly fades away the beautiful curves of a playmate. But then: the human body is neither composed of plastic or printing ink. I think that sensibly used in diluted form (10 - 20%)Deet gives us pleasant evenings outdoors, fishing and talking with friends and family. Especially in Sweden and in Finland the alternative is locking yourself up after 6 pm or so.

Gerard Lammers, The Netherlands