Autan Active is the most effective mosquito repellent on the Danish market today.
It was approved by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency in 2003, which guarantees that the products in Autan series works against mosquitoes and are not harmful to health The Autan range consists of the following products:
Although all mosquito repellents have different effects on different individuals, experience shows that Autan is the most effective mosquito repellent on the Danish market. It is also one of the only approved synthetic mosquito repellents in Denmark.
Autan mosquito spray is the best alternative to DEET mosquito repellents
What is Autan Active?
Autan is developed by Bayer Danmark A/S and is synthetically manufactured. It is based on the substance HIPC (hydroxy-isobutyl piperidine carboxylate), which was specifically developed for people who spend a lot of time in mosquito-infested environments.
Unlike the active ingredient diethyltoluamide (DEET), which is found in jungle oil and Mygga, for example, HIPC is not harmful to health. The Autan range contains three products, each developed for a different application:
- Autan Protection Pump Spray: A mosquito spray
- Autan Family Care Gel: Frozen
- Autan Cooling Insect Spray: A spray for mosquito bites
We'll go through the individual products in the following.
Autan Protection Pump Spray
Autan Protection Pump Spray is a mosquito spray that can be used on adults and children (except children under 3 years). It works for up to 8 hours against mosquitoes and 5 hours against biting flies. It also reduces the risk of tick bites for up to 4 hours.
When using on the face, you should first spray the product in your hands (on an adult) and then apply sparingly to the face. The spray should not be used on children's hands as there is a risk of them putting their hands in their mouths, rubbing their eyes, etc.
Autan Family Care Gel
Autan Family Care Gel can be used by children and adults, with the exception of children under 3 years old. The gel is mild and contains no perfume, colorants or preservatives.
If you are going to use the gel on children, you should avoid any application on the hands. This is due to the risk of the child putting their hands in their mouth, eyes, etc. Also remember that children should not apply the gel themselves.
Autan Cooling Insect Spray
Autan Cooling Insect Spray can be used on adults and children over 2 years old. It has a cooling, softening and soothing effect on the skin after insect bites. The spray is also effective after contact with jellyfish and nettles.
Note that the spray does not have a deterrent effect on mosquitoes or other insects (unlike the other products in the range).
Autan Cooling Insect Spray contains a number of natural ingredients such as aloe vera, chamomile, menthol and camphor. The first two ingredients are included for their calming effect and the last two for their cooling effect.
Autan or natural mosquito repellents?
Although natural solutions are generally preferred over synthetic ones, this is rarely the best choice when it comes to mosquito sprays and other mosquito repellents. This is mainly because synthetic repellents are almost always more effective than natural ones and their effects last longer. Natural mosquito repellents are almost always based on essential oils - primarily citronella oil, eucalyptus oil or coconut oil - all of which can irritate the skin. Just because a substance is "natural" doesn't mean it's gentle on the body.
Skin irritation is fortunately rare when using these oils (compared to other essential oils). There are three main problems with oil-based mosquito repellents:
- they are not very efficient
- their effect doesn't last very long
- they can be harmful to the skin (especially when in direct sunlight)
The ability of oil-based mosquito repellents to damage the skin is due to the fact that essential oils are basically highly concentrated plant extracts that are not always skin-friendly.
Read more about natural and synthetic mosquito repellents here.
The story behind
Until 1996, highly effective mosquito repellents were jungle oil approved in Denmark. However, the product's approval was temporary and when it expired in 1996, the marketing company did not provide the necessary documentation for the product's harmlessness. Therefore, the approval was not renewed and jungle oil has since been illegal in Denmark.
Between 1996 and 2003, there were virtually no effective mosquito repellents on the Danish market. Natural mosquito repellents based on essential oils were available in large numbers, but their efficacy was and still is very limited compared to synthetic mosquito repellents.
In 2003, Bayer Danmark A/S launched the so-called Autan Active series, which consists of the three highly effective products described above. Denmark is one of the strictest countries in the EU when it comes to the approval of harmful products - and since Bayer has been able to get Autan approved in Denmark, this must be taken as a seal of approval for the health safety of the product. Since the approval by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency also guarantees that the mosquito repellent is effective against mosquitoes, there should be no doubt about this either.
Precautions
The precautions for the products in the Autan range are the same as for all other mosquito repellents:
- Exposed skin: The products in the Autan range should only be used on skin that is exposed to mosquitoes and mosquito bites. In other words, this means that the products should not be used on skin under clothing, as mosquitoes do not bite there. This precaution should be taken to avoid skin irritation (which is a side effect of the active ingredient HIPC) and to avoid unnecessary application of the mosquito repellent.
- Damaged skin: If your skin is damaged - which includes wounds, cuts, abrasions, etc. but also sunburn and other skin damage - do not apply Autan Active.
- FaceWhen Autan is to be used on the face, it should be sprayed or rubbed into the hands and then applied sparingly to the face. Avoid contact with the mouth and eyes.
Also, remember that you should never overuse mosquito repellent because it doesn't protect better or for longer.
Side effects
The only known side effect of Autan Active is that it can be irritating to the skin in the area where it is applied.
The side effect stems from the active substance HIPC, which makes up 20% of the content of Autan Active. If you experience any other side effects, you should inform your doctor.