Putting on both sun block and mosquito repellent at the same time could negate their effects.
Sun block protects the skin from harmful UV rays that could cause skin cancer, and mosquito repellent keeps insects away to prevent skin irritation and itchiness from insect bites. When worn together, the two products could become less effective. Does this Spark an idea?
Separate Application
When applied at the same time, mosquito repellent generally permeates the skin more, reducing sun block's protection ability. Health Canada recommends that you put on sun block before mosquito repellent. According to Professor Xiaochen Gu from the University of Manitoba, the appropriate waiting time between the two applications is half an hour.
Combined Product
Several products combine sun block and mosquito repellent in one cream or lotion. According to WorldNomads.com, these products are generally less effective than separate products. Health Canada warns that these products could be dangerous and should not be used.
Considerations
According to WorldNomads.com, there is controversy regarding apply the two products. Although the traditional view advocates using sunscreen first, the International Society of Travel Medicine recommends applying the mosquito repellent first. Other experts believe that the order in which the two products are applied is insignificant because the efficiency of both products inevitably drops regardless.
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