Insect repellent cosmetic products: The role of pharmacist

The insect repellents are the cosmetic products with the basic role to repel the insects and ticks from humans as potential host. Insect bite can affect the human health, starting from harmless local skin reaction to generally toxic reactions as allergy or serious infective disease (malaria, lyme disease...). Nowadays, there are a lot of products with repellent active ingredients of natural or synthetic origin. The most common plant-based substances are etheric oils of eucalyptus, lemongrass, lavander and geranium. High performed synthetic substances which are dominant in commercial use are: DEET (N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide), EBAAP (Butyl acetyl aminopropionic acid) and Picaridin. Complete Protection time (CPT) is basic parameter used for repellent efficiency evaluation. It depends on repellent active ingredients and it's concentration in final product, but also on other ingredients and the formulation form. Properly used, repellents assure effective and safe protection for certain time, whereas unproper use can damage the consumer's health. The most important thing is to read and follow written instruction, declared by manufacturer. That is the role of pharmacist to teach consumers on repellents' proper use, particularly in children.