DEET is the active ingredient in most insect repellents available in the United States that are applied to the skin. The most commonly used chemical name for DEET is N,N-diethyl-m toluamide, though DEET also is expressed often as N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide and N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide.
"DEET is one of the safest, most reliable products on the market. Researchers are constantly searching for new repellents and during the past 40 years, nothing has come close to DEET in terms of repellent efficacy against biting arthropods (insects and ticks)." Jonathan F. Day, Professor of Medical Entomology, University of Florida, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory.
More Than Just a Nuisance… Biting Insects Can Impact Health and Comfort
Enjoy outdoor activity with fewer bug bites and reduced risk of insect-borne disease through proper use of insect repellents and other simple steps.
This Web site provides information on preventing insect bites, including the use of repellents containing DEET.