Ideal Bite

Blood-sucking skeeters giving you itchy feet...and arms and legs?

Submitted by tmeronek on Thu, 07/19/2007 - 1:01am.

The Bite:

Bite back. We are Biters, after all. Lose the itch with repellents that are up to scratch: ones that don't have the pesticide DEET in 'em.

The Benefits:

Retaining your I.Q. While the chemical DEET is currently the most common ingredient used in insect repellents, it might damage your brain cells.
Passing the sniff test. Avoid smelling like you just doused yourself in Raid.
Getting other bugs to bug off. Oil of lemon eucalyptus, catnip, and neem tree oil work against ticks and flies as well as skeeters.

Personally Speaking:

Dousing herself with DEET while traveling in Cambodia a few years ago killed more of Heather's brain cells than all her college drinking parties combined; at home, she's a neem-product devotee.

Wanna Try:

NeemAura Naturals Bug Disenchanter - keeps bugs at bay using neem and contains aloe vera to soothe bites you already have ($12).
Burt's Bees Herbal Insect Repellent - eucalyptus and lemongrass oils do the trick ($8).
Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent - requires more frequent application, but its oil of lemon eucalyptus is recommended by the CDC for avoiding West Nile virus ($8).
Don't Bug Me Patch - protects up to 36 hours by ingeniously masking your CO2 emissions, which is what attracts skeeters ($5/5 patches).
Bug-Off Biting Insect Repelling Wrist Band - cool glow-in-the-dark bracelets that ward off buggers with citronella and geraniol essential oils ($3).