Body & Beauty / Products / Insect Repellent (DEET, Picaridin, Permethrin Clothing Treatment)

Insect Repellent (DEET, Picaridin, Permethrin Clothing Treatment) — safety profile

Low risk

Topical insect repellents: DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, 10-100%), picaridin (5-20%), IR3535 (20%), oil of lemon eucalyptus (30-40%).

What is this product?

Topical insect repellents: DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, 10-100%), picaridin (5-20%), IR3535 (20%), oil of lemon eucalyptus (30-40%). Permethrin: clothing treatment (not skin). DEET is the gold standard — 60+ years of use, billions of applications, excellent safety record at recommended concentrations. AAP: DEET safe for children >2 months at ≤30% concentration. Picaridin equivalent efficacy with fewer cosmetic issues (no plastic damage, less oily). EPA-registered repellents are the most evidence-based protection against vector-borne diseases.

What's in it

Click any compound name for its full safety profile, regulatory consensus, and exposure data.

Clothing Treatment

Formulation Carrier

Who's most at risk

  • Children — Developing endocrine and neurological systems, higher exposure per body weight

Red flags — when to walk away

  • Exposure in enclosed or poorly ventilated transport environment — Chemical concentrations increase in confined spaces.

Green flags — what to look for

  • EPA-registered, UL-certified, or industry safety standard compliance — Product/system meets applicable safety requirements.

Safer alternatives

  • Picaridin 20% — equivalent efficacy to DEET, fewer cosmetic issues
  • Permethrin-treated clothing + picaridin skin — maximum tick protection
  • IR3535 20% — European-developed, excellent safety profile

Frequently asked questions

Who should be careful with Insect Repellent (DEET, Picaridin, Permethrin Clothing Treatment)?

Vulnerable populations identified for this product type: children.

Are there safer alternatives to Insect Repellent (DEET, Picaridin, Permethrin Clothing Treatment)?

Yes — consider: Picaridin 20%; Permethrin-treated clothing + picaridin skin; IR3535 20%. See the Safer alternatives section above for details.

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Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific information. Why we built ALETHEIA →