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Secure Cosmetics
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Icaridin (KBR)
Information on the mosquito's olfactory system has made it possible to define with sufficient accuracy the invisible olfactory systems on which to act. But, above all, it has made it possible, on the basis of a specific biochemical "construction", to "create" in the laboratory a series of prototypes of chemical substances that are potentially active as repellents. Thanks to molecular-modelling techniques, almost eight hundred potential active principles have been "constructed" in the laboratory that have all of the characteristics necessary in order to work as effective repellents on the basis of the connection they create with the sensilla receptors. Computers make it possible precisely to define the chemical compound, like a key that opens an invisible biochemical lock. The compound can be defined very specifically for its particular objective. These laboratory studies led to the development of KBR 3023, the latest innovation in mosquito repellents. Research on the prototype, which proved to be extremely active as of the first tests, went on for ten years, from 1989 to 1999. This long period was necessary in order to assess both the real effectiveness of the compound and its complete innocuousness.
At the end of these analyses, KBR proved to respond to science's need for a modern repellent. In addition to being effective for prolonged periods of time, it has also been shown to be extremely safe (only 1.7% of the total amount of the compound passes through the epidermis, after which it is quickly eliminated by the kidneys). Once applied, KBR acts like a screen between the insect and the skin: it works as a barrier against the mosquitoes and leaves the skin free to breathe. In addition, it remains stable even after exposure to light, does not undergo variations following oxidation processes or after contact with water or sweat.
Confirmed by the WHO
This data has been fully confirmed by the WHO which, in a document from December 2000 (“Report of the Fourth Whopes Working Group Meeting”), it reports that "KBR was tested under temperate and tropical conditions against important disease vectors, demonstrating excellent repellent properties, and in particular against mosquitoes, so much so as to be recommended as the repellent of choice in the prevention of malaria". In addition, the document states that "KBR is recommended as a safe and effective insect repellent for human use".
The tests
Tests have demonstrated that KBR 3023:
· has interesting cosmetic properties: it is not greasy and does not attack plastic materials (such as nail polish)
· guarantees prolonged protection: applied in a dose of 0.3 mg per square centimetre of skin in the various concentrations available (from 10 to 20%), it ensures more than 95% protection for up to four-eight hours after application.
Insects that cannot "tolerate" KBR
Mosquitoes: aedes aegypti, aedes albopictus, aedes taeniorhynchus, culex quienquefasciatus, culex pipiens fatigans, anopheles stephensi, anopheles sinensis, anopheles dirus.
There are almost 3000 mosquito species but, at our latitude, those particularly found are culex and aedes. The Asian tiger mosquito - whose scientific name is aedes albopictus - belongs to the latter and is much more aggressive than the culex mosquito. Compared to the culex, the aedes are much "nastier", since they sting during the day as well and their bites can result in more intense redness and itching. And, above all, they also attack in the less "traditional" seasons, such as Spring and late Autumn. For all mosquitoes, the need to sting other animals is related to reproduction. In fact, only the females sting. They need the blood they suck in order to lay their eggs. And they do not strike accidentally, as is often thought. The warmth and odour of human beings, environmental humidity and even the carbon dioxide released by sleepers are "lures" that draw mosquitoes. The mosquitoes' mandibles and jaws open, creating access to the mouth into which the blood is sucked. What is more, as they sting, they inject their saliva into the host. This saliva contains substances that inhibit coagulation of the blood and is inflammatory.
Flies: musca domestica, stomoxis calcitrans, similium venustum, tabanidae.
There are innumerable kinds of flies. The fly is a dipteran, that is, an insect with two wings. One fly in particular, the stomoxis calcitrans, has a mouth able to sting and to suck blood. Usually, it attacks only horses and livestock in general but can also be a nuisance for humans. In any case, all flies can be a potential threat to human health. These insects feed in a particular way: each time they eat, they regurgitate part of their previous meal. Doing so, they transmit microbes to the objects and foods they land on.
Ticks: ixodes ricinus, ixodes scapularis, ripicephalus sanguineus.
There are two types of ticks: "hard", equipped with a special protective shield on the backs of the males, and "soft". The females are the more dangerous since, not having a protective "shell", they can fill up with much more blood, which they suck from their victims. From May to November, ticks are found in meadows and in the countryside in general. And, although more rarely, on the coats of domestic animals. For long periods of time, even for months, they remain on leaves, from which they drop onto their prey. The latter can include not only animals but also human beings, where the ticks attempt to establish themselves on the warmer and more humid parts of the body, such as the scalp and the armpits. Their ability to hide, combined with the fact that when they bite their victims, they excrete special substances that anaesthetise the area, means that their bites are often not even noticed. Only a small red mark, which appears some days after the first contact (and, in the meantime, the parasite can continue to suck blood undisturbed), indicates that there has been a bite. The major problem associated with tick bites is the possibility of the transmission of diseases through the parasite's saliva or faeces. These potentially very serious diseases include Lyme disease, caused by the borrelia burgdorfi virus. The infection is first manifest with fever, headache and muscle pain. If not recognised and treated, it can cause arthritis and cardiac and nervous-system ailments months or even years later.
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