Picaridin (Icaridin) on your skin: a safety profile
Low riskPrimary intended route of use. Dermal LD50 >5000 mg/kg in rats. Well-tolerated; does not irritate skin in the vast majority of users.
What is picaridin (icaridin)?
Picaridin (Icaridin) is a insect repellent, piperidine derivative, carbamate ester.
The IUPAC name is butan-2-yl 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate.
Also known as: Picaridin, Icaridin, KBR 3023, Bayrepel.
- IUPAC name
- butan-2-yl 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate
- CAS number
- 119515-38-7
- Molecular formula
- C12H23NO3
- Molecular weight
- 229.32 g/mol
- SMILES
- CC(C)OC(=O)N1CCCCC1CCO
- PubChem CID
- 125098
Risk for people
Low riskPrimary intended route of use. Dermal LD50 >5000 mg/kg in rats. Well-tolerated; does not irritate skin in the vast majority of users.
Per EPA registration data, picaridin has very low dermal toxicity and low dermal absorption. No skin sensitization reported in standard testing.
Regulatory consensus
4 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Picaridin (Icaridin). The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US EPA | — | Registered pesticide (insect repellent active ingredient) | EPA-registered; classified in lowest acute toxicity category (Category IV) for oral and dermal |
| WHO | — | Recommended for malaria prevention | WHO recommends picaridin alongside DEET for personal protection against vector-borne diseases |
| CDC | — | Recommended insect repellent | One of four CDC-recommended active ingredients for insect repellents (with DEET, IR3535, OLE) |
| EU BPR | — | Approved biocidal active substance (PT19 — Repellents and attractants) | Approved under EU Biocidal Products Regulation; registered in >40 countries |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where you encounter picaridin (icaridin)
- Insect Repellent Spray — Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent, Natrapel Tick & Insect Repellent
- Insect Repellent Lotion — Sawyer Picaridin Lotion, Ranger Ready
- Insect Repellent Pump Spray — Natrapel 8-Hour, Total Home Picaridin Spray
Frequently asked questions
Is picaridin (icaridin) safe for you?
Primary intended route of use. Dermal LD50 >5000 mg/kg in rats. Well-tolerated; does not irritate skin in the vast majority of users.
What products contain picaridin (icaridin)?
Picaridin (Icaridin) appears in: Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent (insect repellent spray); Natrapel Tick & Insect Repellent (insect repellent spray); Sawyer Picaridin Lotion (insect repellent lotion); Ranger Ready (insect repellent lotion); Natrapel 8-Hour (insect repellent pump spray).
What should I do if my you is exposed to picaridin (icaridin)?
Apply as directed. Wash off when protection is no longer needed.
Why do regulators disagree about picaridin (icaridin)?
Picaridin (Icaridin) has been classified by 4 agencies including US EPA, WHO, CDC, EU BPR, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
See Picaridin (Icaridin) in the body app
Look up products containing picaridin (icaridin), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in body View raw API dataReference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →