What is Picaridin (KBR 3023 or Bayrepel)?: Picaridin is an insect repellent approved by the Environmental Protection Agency that is competing with DEET for number one in the bug spray world. It is also called KBR 3023. Picaridin has been available in the world since 1998, but was registered with the US EPA in 2001, so it’s a relatively new insect repellent.
What percentages of Picaridin are available and how is it used?: Picaridin comes in a 5 and 7 per cent pump spray, a 10 per cent aerosol spray and a wet wipe with 5.75 per cent picaridin. Remember, you cannot compare percentages of one chemical with another. Adults can apply Picaridin up to three times a day, while children should not apply it more than twice a day.
Picaridin and children: The American Association of Pediatricians (AAP) states that picaridin is safe and effective for use in children, but needs to be reapplied every three to four hours. The labeling usually states that Picaridin should not be applied to children more than twice a day, so that would give children 6-8 hours of protection total a day.
One reason parents may choose Picaridin over DEET for children is that some children who have skin reactions to DEET may not experience any skin irritation with Picaridin.
How toxic is Picaridin?: Picaridin is considered to have low acute toxicity through the skin and lungs and is not considered to sensitize the skin. Picaridin has been found to be moderately irritating to the eyes, so avoid contact with your eyes. The pesticide has also been classified by the EPA as not likely to be a human carcinogen, but that isn’t to say you should spray the stuff all over for no reason.
Advantages of picaridin over DEET: Picaridin is marketed as an alternative to DEET probably because some people with skin sensitivities to DEET are looking for other insect repellent options. Picaridin is also nearly odorless. Regarding how long picaridin lasts, there are varying opinions ranging from Bayer, who makes Picaridin, who says Picaridin lasts as long or longer than DEET to the American Association of Pediatricians who state that Picaridin needs to be applied more frequently than DEET.
About.com guide to walking, Wendy Bumgardner is crazy about Picaridin, so check out her review of a Picaridin product to find out why.
Disadvantages of Picaridin: No one has proven yet that Picaridin is effective against ticks, so when trying to repel ticks, stick to DEET. Also, as mentioned above, Picaridin does not last as long as DEET so needs to be applied more often.
Sources: Sources
- CDC. Division of Vector Borne Infectious Diseases. West Nile Virus: Updated Information regarding Insect Repellents.
- CDC. Division of Vector Borne Infectious Diseases. West Nile Virus: Q and A: Insect Repellent Use and Safety.
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. ToxFAQs: DEET.
- AAP. AAP News. Vol. 28. No. 2 Feb. 2007. p. 37.
- CDC. Traveler’s Health. Yellow Book: Protection Against Mosquitoes and Other Arthropods.
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Permethrin.
- AHC Media. Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus as an Insect Repellent.
- AAP News. Increasing options for malaria prophylaxis in children. Vol. 28 No. 2 February 2007, p. 37.
- EPA. New Pesticide Fact Sheet. Picaridin. May 2005.