Keep Bugs Away Chemically or Naturally?

(CBS)  A record wet June in parts of the country could bring a bumper crop of mosquitoes buzzing your way.

Itching is bad enough, but mosquito bites can also carry serious diseases, such as West Nile virus.

How do you keep the bugs at bay?

Approximately one-third of Americans use the common -- and highly effective -- insect repellent DEET, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

DEET is approved by the EPA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics to use on anyone older than two months old.

CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton said on "The Early Show" Tuesday, citing information gleaned from the CDC and WebMD, DEET is an insecticide, and can affect the nervous system, so it has to be used wisely.

Higher concentrations of DEET in insect repellent provide longer-lasting protection, but the American Academy of Pediatrics, Ashton said, recommends using repellents with no more than 30 percent concentration of DEET for kids under two months old.

If you are going to use DEET, Ashton recommended applying the product on your clothing instead of your skin. She also suggested using a pump spray instead of an aerosol, so your child doesn't breathe in as much of the chemical. She added you shouldn't apply the product to your hands. You should always wash your hands after touching insect repellent, Ashton said, and always wash off immediately when you come indoors.

Using bug spray is a good idea, according to Ashton, to avoid annoying itching and potential infections. But are there are alternatives to using chemically-enhanced repellents?

Ashton said there are several products that use natural ingredients, instead of chemicals like DEET.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus tops the CDC's list, Ashton said, as a DEET alternative. The product is a natural oil that comes from the lemon eucalyptus tree. The product found in numerous products is safe for kids at least three years old, according to the CDC.

Another CDC recommended product is IR3535, which has been available in Europe for 20 years and has been sold in the U.S. since 1999. IR 3535 is currently available through Avon Corporation's Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535 and Bullfrog's Mosquito Coast.

Citronella is another choice. The well-known lemony stand-by isn't just for candles anymore. Citronella can be found in some lotions. However, there is conflicting information on whether it is really effective. In 1997, the EPA concluded that citronella-based insect repellents must carry the following statement on their labels: "For maximum repellent effectiveness of this product, repeat applications at one hour interval."

Soybean oil, released in 1997, is a natural repellent that's a combination of soybean oil, geranium oil, and coconut oil. In tests, this repellent usually provides longer-lasting protection than citronella-based repellents.

But how effective are they?

DEET-based products provided complete protection for the longest duration, according to the New England Journal of Medicine. Higher concentrations of DEET provided longer-lasting protection. A formulation containing almost 24 percent DEET protected over three hours. A soybean-oil-based repellent protected against mosquito bites for an average of just over an hour and a half. The IR3535-based repellent protected an average of around 20 minutes. In the study, a two percent soybean oil product called Bite Blocker for Kids protected against bites for an average of 94 minutes. All other botanical repellents tested provided protection less than 20 minutes.

However, there are repellants that you don't have to apply to skin.

Permethrin, Ashton said, comes from the crushed and dried chrysanthemum flowers. Effective against mosquitoes, flies, ticks, fleas, human lice, and chiggers, Permethrin has low mammalian toxicity, is poorly absorbed by the skin, and is rapidly metabolized by skin and blood.

For these reasons, Ashton said, Permethrin sprays should be applied directly to clothing or other fabrics -- such as tent walls and mosquito nets -- but not to skin.

To apply to clothing, spray each side of the fabric outdoors for 30 to 45 seconds, or just enough to moisten it. The clothing should then be allowed to dry for two to four hours before being worn. The spray is non-staining, nearly odorless, resistant to degradation by heat or sun, and retains its potency for at least two weeks, even after several launderings.

Some clothes, Ashton added already have Permethrin bound into the fabric, such as .

Ashton also recommended these tips for safe bug repellent application:
--Apply only to exposed skin, not under clothing.
--Never use over cuts, wounds or irritated skin
--Do not apply to eyes or mouth.
--Do not let children handle products
--Wash treated skin when indoors

For more information on repellent active ingredients, click here.