More than 200 million Americans are expected to use insect repellent this year. Plenty of those people will be using the products to repel disease-carrying ticks—which are technically arachnids—especially since 2023 is shaping up to be one of the worst tick seasons in recent memory.
The good news: A lot of the repellents work. The bad news: a lot of them are also filled with chemicals that both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventionand the World Health Organization warn can be at least somewhat hazardous, potentially causing rashes, blisters, skin irritation, and in rare cases, even seizures.
Here are the ingredients you need to know about:
DEET: It’s the most common (and effective) ingredient in pest repellents, but you need to use it according to label instructions. Apply it only once a day and keep it away from the eyes.
Picaridin and IR3535: Both chemicals work in more or less the same way DEET does—and both carry the same risks. If you see a product that says “DEET-free,” read the label to see if one of these chemicals are used instead.
Essential oils: Clove, patchouli, peppermint, geranium, eucalyptus, lavender, cedarwood, lemon grass oil, amyris oil, oil of citronella, and more all have the power to repel ticks. They evaporate quickly from the skin, however, and require regular reapplication.
Francis deSouza of Illumina had been locked in a monthslong battle with activist investor Carl Icahn over its $7.1 billion acquisition of cancer test maker Grail.
"I would recommend wearing either a chemical or physical [sunscreen formula]. But if I had my choice, I'd say choose physical blockers," like zinc and titanium dioxide.
—Dr. Anthony Rossi, dermatologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
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Today's newsletter was written by Jeffrey Kluger and Jamie Ducharme, and edited by Mandy Oaklander.
