Q. A few months ago, I sprayed insect repellent containing DEET on my legs to keep mosquitoes away. Then I lay down on the grass on my stomach to pull weeds out of my pond. Two days later the grass where my legs had been was dead. None of the other grass was.
If this product kills grass, what does it do to skin?
A. DEET was developed for the U.S. Army and has been used by the public for more than 50 years. Skin irritation has been reported as the most common side effect. There have been some reports of neurological side effects, including seizures, particularly at high concentrations.
DEET is the most effective mosquito repellent on the market. There are some effective alternatives, however. They include picaridin (Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard, Cutter Advanced, Off Family Care Clean Feel) and oil of lemon eucalyptus (Repel Lemon Eucalyptus).
