What is ir3535 and should you worry about it?
IR3535 is an EPA-registered insect repellent that EWG recommends at 20% concentration and that the CDC allows on children without age restriction. NPIC notes it is an eye irritant, and REI puts its typical protection at 2 to 3 hours, shorter than DEET or picaridin.
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Eye irritation: The most specific concern with IR3535 is eye contact. NPIC lists IR3535 as an eye irritant, so it should be kept away from the eyes and applied carefully, especially on children who may rub their faces.
Shorter protection: IR3535 generally protects for less time than DEET or picaridin. REI puts its typical protection at 2 to 3 hours, which means more frequent reapplication and more total skin contact over a day outdoors.
Carcinogenicity: NPIC notes that none of the common repellent ingredients, IR3535 included, have been shown to damage genes in lab tests.
General precautions: As with all repellents, the EPA advises applying only to exposed skin, never under clothing or over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
US EPA: IR3535 is EPA-registered, meaning the manufacturer supplied technical effectiveness data; the CDC recommends EPA-registered products.
CDC: States IR3535 can be used on children without age restriction, and that EPA-registered products are considered safe when used as directed, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
EWG: Names IR3535 one of three key recommended active ingredients, at 20% concentration.
NPIC: Documents IR3535 as an eye irritant in its repellent toxicity overview.
How to reduce exposure
If you choose IR3535, EWG recommends the 20% concentration, and the CDC allows it on children of any age. Because NPIC flags it as an eye irritant, keep it well away from the eyes and apply it to your own hands first before putting it on a child's face. Plan to reapply more often than with DEET or picaridin, since REI lists IR3535 protection at only 2 to 3 hours. Apply to exposed skin only, never under clothing or over broken skin, and wash it off when back indoors. For longer outings or tick-heavy areas, a 20% picaridin or DEET product will last longer.
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IR3535 is allowed on children of any age, with one notable caution. The CDC states IR3535 can be used on children without age restriction, alongside DEET, picaridin, and 2-undecanone. The main caveat is that NPIC flags IR3535 as an eye irritant, so keep it away from the eyes and apply it to your own hands first before putting it on a child's face. EPA-registered repellents like IR3535 are considered safe when used as directed.
IR3535 is effective but generally protects for less time than DEET. REI lists IR3535 protection at roughly 2 to 3 hours, compared with 2 to 12 hours for DEET, which means more frequent reapplication. EWG still recommends IR3535 at 20% as one of three key effective active ingredients. Consumer Reports notes that in its testing the most reliable protection has come from DEET at 25 to 30%, so for high-risk tick or disease areas, DEET or 20% picaridin will last longer than IR3535.
EWG recommends IR3535 at 20% concentration as one of three key effective repellent active ingredients. The CDC notes that, in general, products with less than 10% active ingredient may offer only limited protection of 1 to 2 hours, so a 20% IR3535 formula is the practical choice for meaningful protection. Even at 20%, plan to reapply more often than with DEET or picaridin, since REI puts IR3535 protection at about 2 to 3 hours.
The CDC states that IR3535 can be used on children without age restriction, the same as DEET, picaridin, and 2-undecanone. This gives it a wider age window than oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is limited to children 3 years and older. The key precaution is that NPIC flags IR3535 as an eye irritant, so it should be applied carefully and kept away from a child's eyes.
The documented concern with IR3535 is eye irritation. NPIC lists IR3535 as an eye irritant, so it should be kept away from the eyes and applied carefully, particularly on children who may rub their faces. NPIC also notes that none of the common repellent ingredients, including IR3535, have been shown to damage genes in lab tests. As with all repellents, the EPA advises applying only to exposed skin and never over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
DEET is the most studied EPA-registered insect repellent active ingredient, effective against mosquitoes and ticks. The CDC reports its efficacy peaks around 50% concentration, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends products applied to children contain no more than 30% DEET.