What are Mosquito Repellent Clothing?
Mosquito repellent clothing has an insect repellent agent attached directly to the fabric fibers so the wearer is protected from insects and insect-borne diseases without harsh chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin. The repellent called Permethrin is derived from natural insect repellent plants and is often used in these types of clothing. Safe and odorless, mosquito repellent clothing is a good alternative to DEET-based insect repellent for young children, pregnant women and adults in heavily infested areas. Mosquito repellent hats, socks and everything else look like ordinary clothes and don't require any special care.
Mosquito repellent clothing protects the wearer from a variety of pests. Ticks, mosquitoes, flies and ants are some non-mosquito insects that are repelled. The user, in turn, is less at risk of contracting insect-borne diseases such as malaria, Lyme disease, West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis.
Permethrin is an artificial version of a natural insect repellent and is used to coat the fibers of mosquito repellent clothing. It is derived from the African daisy, a type of chrysanthemum, and other mosquito-repellent plants. Registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency since 1977, permethrin is generally not considered harmful to humans or the environment, although some concerns have been raised that it may increase the risk of cancer.
The advantage of mosquito repellent clothing over sprays is that it provides effective protection against mosquitoes while limiting the contact of chemicals with the skin. Strong chemical-based mosquito repellent, which contains DEET, can cause serious side effects such as dizziness, skin irritation, and even death. Young children, pregnant and lactating women, and people with prolonged exposure to mosquitoes, such as military men and women, are particularly vulnerable. Other natural remedies, such as garlic and citronella-based insect sprays, are safe, but may not be enough in areas with large investments.
The amount of mosquito-repellent clothing a person needs to wear to protect themselves from bites depends on the number of insects present. A simple permethrin-treated bandana may be enough to protect a child on a picnic. A fully-treated pantsuit with mosquito netting and hand gloves may be necessary for camping in swampy areas. Insect Shield®, which is patent pending and claims to be the first mosquito repellent clothing on the market, claims that its products can be washed 70 times without losing their insect repellent properties.