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You are here: NPIC Home Page Pesticide Ingredients Active Ingredients DEET

DEET is used in insect repellents that are applied directly to the skin to repel mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, and other biting pests. These repellents may be sprays, foams, or wipes. They can help prevent disease, but they must be used correctly. Always read and follow the label directions.

• Labels often require users to wash the treated areas after going indoors.
• DEET should not be used on babies less than 2 months old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Research has shown that products with lower concentrations of DEET provide protection for shorter periods of time.
• Read more about about using DEET safely.

If you have questions about DEET, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 1-800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email at npic@ace.orst.edu.

Related Topics:

What are pests?

What are pesticides?

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NPIC provides objective, science-based information about pesticides and pesticide-related topics to enable people to make informed decisions. NPIC is a cooperative agreement between Oregon State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (cooperative agreement #X8-83947901). The information in this publication does not in any way replace or supersede the restrictions, precautions, directions, or other information on the pesticide label or any other regulatory requirements, nor does it necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. EPA.