How Do Insect Repellents Generally Affect Mosquitoes?
Common insect repellents claim they simply create an invisible barrier around the skin that repels mosquitoes. While this sounds compelling, insect repellents actually work by interfering with the biological processes mosquitoes use to locate human hosts. Understanding how insect repellents interfere with the sensory systems mosquitoes use to locate humans can help consumers make more informed decisions about mosquito protection.
Mosquitoes do not randomly bite people. They rely heavily on ‘olfaction‘ – their sense of smell – to locate humans. Humans produce a complex mixture of skin odors, sweat compounds, carbon dioxide, and other volatile chemicals that all signal to mosquitoes that they have found a suitable meal. If the detection process for finding human hosts become less effective, then landing behavior, host recognition, and feeding opportunities all decrease. Interrupting the process of ‘smelling’ odors is therefore one of the most effective ways to reduce bites.1
Modern research surrounding insect repellents all say that the exact mode of action for most mosquito repellents is unknown. Synthetic repellents, such as DEET, IR3535®, and picaridin, all appear to function as “maskers”. This means that these active ingredients do not necessarily repel mosquitoes through a strong odor alone, instead they may alter or mask the scent signals mosquitoes use to recognize humans. Researchers describe this effect as changing a person’s scent signature. Rendering humans “invisible” to mosquitoes, modern repellents may alter the chemical signals mosquitoes use to identify humans.1
While several active ingredients may function as scent maskers, IR3535® offers additional advantages that make it a popular and effective choice for modern insect protection.
IR3535®: An Effective Modern Repellent
The active ingredient IR3535®, used globally for decades, has been proven effective against mosquitoes. Structurally similar to the naturally occurring amino acid B-alanine, IR3535® appears to work primarily as a masking agent, interfering with a mosquito’s ability to recognize human scent. While functioning similar to other synthetic active ingredients, IR3535® has additional benefits making it a popular choice among consumers.
IR3535® has demonstrated proven efficacy against mosquitoes and other biting insects. It has a lower toxicity profile compared to many traditional repellents. IR3535®is suitable for use with many vulnerable populations such as infants & children, pregnant women, elderly, and those with sensitive skin. DEET, one of the most popular insect repellent ingredients, has raised concerns in recent years for safety concerns in those same vulnerable populations. Additionally, DEET products often times are oily in feel, exhibit an unpleasant odor, and need higher concentrations of the active ingredient to be effective.1 As interest grows in insect repellents with strong safety profiles and effective performance, IR3535® has become an increasingly popular active ingredient with its favorable safety record and more consumer-friendly product quality.
While the active ingredient is important in protecting against mosquitoes, overall performance of an insect repellent also depends on how effectively that ingredient is used in the repellent formula.
How IMPEDE Maximizes the Benefits of IR3535®
IR3535® is the active ingredient found in the insect repellent IMPEDE. Designed to help reduce mosquito attraction before bites occur, IMPEDE is a premium insect repellent formulated to enhance the effectiveness of IR3535®. IMPEDE uses the controlled-release system STAYTEC™ to help keep the active ingredient on the skin longer. Minimizing evaporation, STAYTEC™ allows IMPEDE to provide up to 14 hours of protection from mosquitoes. IMPEDE offers consumers longer-lasting coverage compared with many traditional formulations.
IMPEDE is an insect repellent designed for family-focused safety. The lotion format of IMPEDE not only reduces waste compared with sprays, but it also offers easier application and more even coverage. Parents can apply this product to their children’s skin exactly where they need it to go, eliminating their worry about product getting into sensitive areas like children’s eyes. This hypoallergenic and dye-free repellent is suitable for infants/children, pregnant women, and those with sensitive skin. With IMPEDE, families can focus on purchasing one product for their insect protection needs.
By disrupting the scent cues mosquitoes rely on to locate human hosts, IR3535® represents a scientifically grounded approach to mosquito protection that combines effectiveness with a strong history of safe use. This science-based approach to mosquito repellency is why IR3535® serves as the active ingredient in IMPEDE, providing long-lasting protection built on a proven method of preventing bites from mosquitoes. So choose IMPEDE: tough on bugs, gentle on you.