Can deet make your skin peel?

I have used insect repellants that are nearly 100% DEET without any peeling skin. The effect may be due to something in the other 77% or it may be an unusual reaction you are having to the DEET.

You could be allergic. I know some people hate deet. I don’t want to spam, but I use a product that is all essential oils called terra shield. The spam part is that you can only get it from a multi level marketing Company called DoTerra. I’ve never sold it (just a member for the discounts) but the stuff works great.

I think my repellent was 6% deet.

If the peeling is happening where you are putting the repellent it could be from any of the ingredients in the brand you bought, including the deet, but not necessarily.

I would stop. Wait a week or two until all better, and then try it again. Then you know it is from the spray. It’s called a rechallenge.

Avon Skin So Soft might be a better choice for you or what @Judi suggested.

Better yet wear long pants and long sleeved shirts from dusk and through the night.

DEET is unfortunagtely one of the few repellants that actually work. it comes with some health risks if used in high concentrations for prolonged time. It reduces the health risk from mosquito exposure though.

Skin reactions are very rare but can be severe. Look DEET up on wikipdia, it has a lot of information.

From what you wrote, I think it may likely not be the DEET. Try another brand and avoid using it under clothing.

I’ve never had a problem with DEET, and I use 100% DEET (REI’s Jungle Juice). Peeling skin is not one of the things that people who use DEET complain about.
As @whitenoise said, DEET is just about the ony thing that really works. Keep in mind that you need to protect yourself not only against mosquitoes but also against ticks. If you’re going someplace where there’s lots of mosquitoes and ticks, 23% DEET may not be enough. If you do use 23%, just apply it often.
There is one other repellent that’s almost as effective as DEET, and that’s picaridin. See this Consuumer Reports article. I’ve used it, and it also works well, but then again, I usually don’t go anywhere there are swarms of mosquitoes.
Finally, there are also products that you can use that you don’t have to apply to your skin. See this article.

Thanks all. I’ll do some tests by giving the DEET a rest and seeing if the peeling clears up. I have a lot of contact allergies so it wouldn’t surprise me, although I’ve never had a reaction that just causes peeling and no itching.

I’ve been applying it directly to my skin because DEET can damage clothes – is that wrong?

@2davidc8 I actually used that exact article to make my purchase. I bought the Cutter backwoods stuff that’s tied for first against mosquitoes and ticks. Thanks!

If the peeling is associated with the deet I would definitely not use it. When you retest, just do a small patch of skin. No need to risk your whole body reacting.

As an aside, I find the use of DEET to be really dangerous and scary. An alternative is long pants with bottoms tucked into pants, long-sleeved shirts and a net overshirt. Not very pretty and can be hot but safer than spraying yourself with chemicals for two months.

One source

I used to wear this regularly when gardening in Lake Placid during black fly season in June. An occasional fly would get inside the net, but it was bearable.”

Thanks for the warnings, I read up on the dangers of DEET and decided that Lyme disease is a more worrisome threat than the very rare seizures caused by DEET, mostly in young children. I’m going to be hiking up mountains in 80 degree weather all summer so I don’t know that long clothing is really an option.

I think that’s wise.

@Mariah: You make a good point about heat prostration.

Is there an elevation above which Lyme ticks cannot be found? Where will you be hiking? For fun or for profit (or both)?

I don’t know about that elevation question. Mosquito-bourne West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis are also concerns where I’ll be. I’ll PM you the location since I don’t like putting that out there. It’s for school credit, and for fun!

Duly noted.

Dusk and night time are the worst times for mosquitos, and if you have 80’s during the day I assume you are down in the 70’s in the evening? I switch to long pants in FL as the evening settles in often for this very reason, because of mosquitos.

Also, now they make that work out clothing that is very thin, maybe that is more comfortable for hot weather? They make some pajamas for women who flash while they sleep made out of similar material. I prefer cotton, but the other might be cooler.

As far as ticks, check each other for ticks daily. My husband and I used to check each others backs when we had been outside in our yard.

I’m not trying to talk you out of also using chemicals, I just think it’s good to have options. Also, do not forget your feet! Mosquitos love feet. I have had more than one mosquito bite on the arch of my foot. Sucky place for an itch. I spray my feet with repellent if I wear sandals at night.

I am a mosquito magnet. I have had as many as 20 bites after eating al fresco with friends, or watching the fireworks on July 4. Some people barely attract them. I hope you are the latter.

I don’t expect we’ll be hiking at dusk or night, fortunately. I will probably spend time outside at dusk, but not in the woods, and I can switch to longer clothes then, yeah.

Mosquitoes adore me too, unfortunately. I’ve told my group members that my presence will serve as mosquito repellent for them, since they’ll all come to me. Hah. :(

And do not forget the black flies (teeth with wings). They add to the appreciation of all creatures great and small. Also the no-serums.)

LOL. I say the same thing, that everyone else is safe with me around. I also rationalize that I probably have already had west nile and don’t have to worry about it.

They used to love me but it’s not so bad anymore. I just found out I have a high platelet count so I think my blood is now to rich for their taste. I’ve also heard that they have an aversion to brewers yeast so if you drink plenty of beer you should be OK.

I gave the bug spray a rest until it my arms stopped peeling, then used it again a few days ago. No peeling. I guess it wasn’t the DEET, and I figured as much because I’ve never had an allergic reaction that wasn’t itchy. I think maybe I got a really light sunburn that peeled for some reason. I don’t know, I’m just glad I can use the bug spray! I’m gonna need it!

Sounds good.