What's worse? The bugs, or the toxins in the insect repellants? In short, the toxins in your average insect repellant are far worse than the bites in the long run. DEET, permethrin and other common insect repellants are actually insecticides that you put directly on your skin! Added to these "chemical name" ingredients are the usual toxins found in lotions and creams: parabens and so forth, adding cancer risk to the potential for neurological damage. If it can kill a bug, it can harm you. So what to do? You'll learn everything you need to know to stay safe and select safe products for you and your loved ones.