<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Thanks to everyone for their input and interesting homemade insect
repellent recipes.  I received an email from SC Johnson, the makers of
OFF! insect repellent since I posted my initial request.  I put that
email first and put the summary of responses afterwards.

From SC Johnson, received on April 26, 2002:

To the best of our knowledge OFF! Skintastic Family Formula Insect
Repellent, OFF! Skintastic For Kids Insect Repellent, OFF! Skintastic 1V
Insect Repellent and OFF! Aerosol Insect Repellent are not formulated to
contain gluten.  We no longer market OFF! Skintastic For Kids however
you
may have purchased a bottle already.  We would recommend you don't use
OFF!
Skintastic with Sunscreen or OFF! Skintastic Magicolor as those lotions
may
contain gluten.

We trust the information will be beneficial and thank you for contacting
our
company as we value all consumer comments and concerns.

Sincerely,

Sandra E. Archer
Toxicology Specialist
************

Several people commented correctly that gluten is not absorbed through
the skin and insect repellent should not be a problem if used carefully.
I realize I am being overly cautious here but my kids are not as careful
with their hands as an adult would be.  I even just spray their clothes
(not their skin if possible) but I know that they still may touch their
clothes or skin and then their mouth or eyes.  So I try to get
information on topical products as an extra precaution.

******
I've always used Off! Deep woods and Skintastic, both before and after
going gf without a problem.  I've never checked it out though.

******
You might want to even try Watkins Insect and Bug Repellant.  It is a
cream
and I rub some on my hands then apply to clothing and hats.  It keeps
the
bugs away without putting the DEET directly on your skin.
(look Watkins up on the web)

******
People with "sweet" blood...diabetics also have problems.  B Vit act as
a repellent and, of course,
don't wear perfume.  Read not too long ago that a fan breeze deters them
...that's why Victorian
houses had ceiling fans on the porch.....

******
mix Avon's SKIN SO SOFT    with water [half and half]....rated as one of
the most
effective and no DDT

******
I've been using a rather bizarre method to keeps bugs away.  I
discovered an
all natural bug and flea repellent sold for cats and dogs.  When I read
the
ingredients I was surprised to discover these pills were mostly garlic.
Being a little odd, I decided to cook up some soup using a LOT of
garlic.
Amazingly fleas and mosquitoes leave me alone, while still bugging (pun
intended) my husband to death.  A few months into eating a garlic rich
diet
I noticed my menstrual periods became a lot less heavy as I was passing
less
clots.  I did some more reading and learned that garlic is a natural
blood
thinner.  The only bad part to eating as much garlic as I do, is that my
sweat (and my urine) both smell like garlic.  It's a little weird, but
I'm
able to handle it by using Mitchum (excuse my spelling) antiperspirant
(the
urine part handles it self - LOL).

If you're on blood thinners of ANY kind, DO NOT USE GARLIC as the
combination of the two will reduce your clotting time too much.

Oh and by the way, I found the all natural anti-flea pills at Trader
Joe's a
couple of years back.

******
I was just told recently that a mixture of the following works good for
an insect repellent.

6 oz. water
2 oz. Dawn dish detergent
3 oz. cider vinegar

Just mix and put in a spray bottle.

I have not tried it yet, but am going to when black flies and mosquitoes
come out.

*****
My comment:
Since there is Lyme Disease in my area (a tick-borne disease caused by a
very tiny tick), I prefer to use an insect repellent with DEET when we
are in a high-risk area.  But the homemade recipes may be helpful to
others.

Best wishes,
Cindy in MA

* Visit the Celiac Web Page at www.enabling.org/ia/celiac/index.html *