BUG SPRAY
Hey Friends!! π©π»ββοΈπ Iβm Dr. Ashley Mayer, practicing family physician and mother of two awesome kiddos, age 9 and 2 π§πΆπ», formulator of the very best, purest supplements for your kiddos and family (link in bio π), and creator of the π Strategy Guide (link in bio π₯) β£β£β£β£β£
π¦ Ok here we go! The EPA suggests bug repellent of either DEET, PMD (oil of lemon eucalyptus βΌοΈ NOT to be confused with essential oil- see my slides), Picaridin, or IR3535.
π¦ PMD is the only naturally derived option, and so Iβm going with this! (SEE LAST SLIDE)βΌοΈ
π https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you
π¦ The jury is still out on DEET and itβs toxicity- some research says yay, and some says nay- skin irritation is most conclusive, so if your child has βsensitive skinβ be aware DEET may exacerbate your childβs skin condition.
π¦ When deciding on a repellent, itβs incredibly important to not only be concerned about the bite itself, but also the disease the vector may carry. π₯I cannot emphasize this enough!π₯
β οΈ I am a super crunchy mom and doctor, however I do treat Lyme disease, and it is incredibly difficult at times to do this. For this reason, I actually choose permethrin clothing for my kids when we are in areas that are endemic to lyme ticks (and other co-infections). (Insectshield.com)
π¦ For EO natural bug spray, the most effective is citronella, thyme oil, geraniol, peppermint oil, cedar oil, patchouli and clove that have been found to repel malaria, filarial and yellow fever vectors for a period of 60-180 mins (see slides)
π¦βΌοΈ When it comes to natural EO repellent, Iβll surely go with @henrys_homestead every time! π
βΌοΈ Just bc itβs βnaturalβ doesnβt mean itβs safe! Many EOs may cause skin irritation as well. βΌοΈ See slides