Young woman mother applying insect repellent to her two son before forest hike beautiful summer day or evening. Protecting children from biting insects at summer. Active leisure with kids,

Saltidin^® - Safely through the summer

Editor: Kerstin Stenger

April 7, 2025

Blue sky, sun. My eyes follow the gentle waves of the lake and the gentle sound of the water immediately relaxes me. Peace and silence. Wonderful! But suddenly a high, annoying buzzing sound reaches my ears. My hand automatically swaps at sound- a mosquito. Do these creatures have to be everywhere? Why are they targeting me?

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. They 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.

Protect against diseases

To protect ourselves from bites, we need an effective insect repellent. Not just because the little vampires love our blood. They can also transmit diseases, such as

Malaria,
dengue fever,
Zika virus,
early summer meningoencephalitis (FSME),
Lyme disease,
tick-born Encephalitis (TBE) and
West Nile fever.

Incidentally, climate change is contributing to the spread of dangerous diseases in many countries. Potentially dangerous insects are found in ever more areas around the world.

Safe protection against insects and ticks

The best way to keep blood-sucking insects and ticks away is "prevention first". This is ensured by our active ingredient Icaridin, which LANXESS subsidiary Saltigo sells to insect repellent manufacturers under the trade name Saltidin^®.

Mosquito sucking blood on human skin with nature background

How Saltidin^®works

Reminder: Our body scents serve as a kind of compass for bloodthirsty insects and ticks. 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.

How the active ingredient Saltidin^® protects

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 diverse types of ticks, gnats, ants, cockroaches, flies, and chiggers.

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

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 several hours. In addition, products containing Saltidin^® are also effective for protecting animals such as horses and dogs.

This is Saltidin^®

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

Icaridin is the active ingredient's chemical name. It is a piperidine derivative, which 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.

Detailed information about Saltidin

Tips for optimal protection

Apply insect repellent to exposed skin and clothing*.
Repellents containing Saltidin® (they often also go under the name of Icaridin or Picaridin) are suitable for the whole body. However, you should avoid mucous membranes (like eyes, nose).
Follow the dosage instructions on the packaging.
Swimming, heavy sweating, or friction can reduce the protective film. If this happens, it is recommended to reapply the repellent.

These tricks also keep ticks and other insects away

Wear tightly woven clothing that insects cannot get through.
Long sleeves and trouser legs protect against ticks. You can spot them faster on light-colored fabrics. Also, pull your socks over your pant legs to prevent ticks from crawling in.
Fine mesh screens in front of windows and doors keep insects out.
A mosquito net over the bed provides additional protection.
Cover rain barrels and wash out birdbaths regularly. Be careful that your garden pond does not become a mosquito breeding ground.

Conclusion: With Saltidin^®, when used as directed, you can effectively protect your health and that of your loved ones - and enjoy your time outdoors without worries.