Bites by mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting pests pose a health risk. The LANXESS active ingredient Saltidin® keeps the troublesome bloodsuckers away.

Prevent disease by keeping biting pests away

Intrusive species such as mosquitoes, biting flies, horseflies and ticks start to become active as soon as the weather warms up – much to the annoyance of humans and animals alike. Their painful bites and stings itch and can become inflamed or cause allergic reactions.

These pests can even transmit diseases such as malaria and dengue fever or the Zika virus. In some parts of Europe, including Germany, a tick bite can lead to early summer meningoencephalitis (tick-borne encephalitis) or even Lyme disease. Mosquitoes can also infect their victims with West Nile fever, leading to potentially dangerous complications.

The best defense is to prevent these blood-feeding insects from biting in the first place. Icaridin stops biting pests effectively. The LANXESS subsidiary Saltigo markets Icaridin to insect repellent manufacturers under the trade name Saltidin®.

Saltidin®

Saltidin® is Saltigo’s brand name for the active ingredient. The name is sometimes found on insect-repellent packaging, but more often found on labeling is the chemical name Icaridin or, on English-language packaging, Picaridin.

Icaridin is the active ingredient’s chemical name. It is a piperidine derivative, that is a nearly odorless and colorless liquid and it is practically insoluble in water. Icaridin was developed by Bayer in the 1980s using molecular modeling. As part of the Bayer Group’s restructuring program, the rights to manufacture and market the active ingredient were transferred to LANXESS in 2004.

How it works

Ticks, mosquitoes and horseflies etc. detect scent markers up to 30 meters away. These include carbon dioxide by perspiration from the skin and body odors such as sweat or even cosmetic fragrances. These scent markers act as compasses for these biting anthropods.

Repellents containing Saltidin® interfere with this compass. A thin film applied over the skin masks the scent markers, and thanks to this camouflage effect, stops biting insects and ticks from being able to recognize humans as a food source.

Saltidin® offers broad protection – ranging from mosquitoes to sand fleas

Products containing Saltidin® offer comprehensive protection. Saltidin®`’s repellent effect has been proven on various species of mosquito (Culex, Aedes and Anopheles), as well as on various types of ticks, gnats, ants, cockroaches, flies and chiggers.

The advantage over insecticides is that the pests are not killed.

Saltidin® is safe and effective

According to numerous independent studies, Saltidin®/Icaridin is

·         skin-friendly,

·         almost odorless and colorless,

·         not sticky or greasy,

·         compatible with plastics,

·         suitable for a wide variety of products and types of application, from spray to wax stick.

Saltidin®: the all-round repellent

Insect repellents containing Saltidin® are suitable for sensitive population groups, including children, pregnant women and allergy sufferers. That is why consumer protection agencies and institutes for tropical medicine recommend repellents containing Saltidin®. In terms of tolerability, Saltidin® regularly outperforms the active ingredient diethyltoluamide (DEET) in consumer organization reports.

The gentle protection provided by Saltidin® does not come at the expense of lasting effectiveness. Depending on the product’s formulation and amount used, it is effective against insects and ticks for up to 14 hours. In addition, products containing Saltidin® are also effective for protecting animals such as horses and dogs.

At home and abroad: Saltidin® protects you wherever you go

Icaridin has been successfully used in repellents for over 20 years. Saltidin® products are found in more than 50 countries and throughout numerous climatic zones.

Products containing Saltidin® provide reliable protection in the tropics. The German Society for Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Global Health recommends them as a prophylactic against malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya and the Zika virus. The German Green Cross advises their use in safeguarding against yellow fever. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), an effective insect repellent is also essential for the prevention of West Nile fever.

From sprays to gels: Saltidin® does it all

Saltigo does not sell insect repellents directly in the consumer market. Instead, it markets Saltidin® to B2B customers who use it to make repellents that can be applied in a wide variety of different ways, including:

·         pump sprays,

·         gels,

·         spray emulsions,

·         lotions,

·         wet wipes or

·         wax sticks

There are currently over 500 Saltidin®-based products for humans and/or animals registered in Germany. Carrying the name Saltidin®, Icaridin or Picaridin, they can be found in pharmacies, supermarkets, and drugstores.