Health & Fitness

As long as humans have been going outdoors, weve been plagued by bugs. Biting, buzzing bugs are perhaps the number one reason why many people dont enjoy going outdoors, and consequently a number of ways of dealing with bugs have cropped up. Insect repellents are one of the most effective ways of dealing with bugs, particularly the lowly and highly annoying mosquito.

Mosquitoes are one of the most widespread and resistant survivors on our planet. All they need is a little bit of standing water to lay their eggs and a few hosts to feed on and they can breed by the thousands. The most common repellents for mosquitoes contain the chemical known as DEET.

DEET is a bit of a conundrum for outdoors enthusiasts. It is highly effective at repelling insects, but it has also proven to be harmful to humans. It can cause anything from numbness in the lips, to an itchy rash all the way to death. It enters your bloodstream through your skin, and you absolutely should not use DEET based products on young children and infants.

Natural Repellents Might Be a Better Option
There are some companies that are producing natural based repellents that are highly effective at keeping mosquitoes away. Some of these repellents use a mixture of various botanical oils that mosquitoes dont like. The advantage of natural repellents is that they wont harm you or the environment, the disadvantage is that you have to apply them more frequently.