DEET story. 14 years old, camping on the Eastern Piedmont in swamp country, mid 90'sF and 8-% humidity. Running around in boots and shorts, fishing day and night. Ticks, sand flies and skeeters thick as hair on a dogs back. Out of desperation I sprayed my legs, arms torso and neck with Deep Woods Off- sprayed until I was wet. less than 30 minutes later my lips were numb, eyelids sagging and very dizzy. waded into the water and got as much as I could off. Snagged a bar of soap and took a pond bath, after an hour or so, things came around and I was fine.
I spray permethrin on outer clothes and let them dry before wearing. In tick/chigger country, I put treated ear tags design for livestock in my boot laces and a sweat band sprayed with permethrin around the top of my boots.
Bill