Preparation and Skin Permeation Study of N, N- Diethyl- meta-Toluamide Semi Solid Formulations

N,N-Diethyl meta Toluamide (DEET) is an insect repellent agent that contrary to its benefits,if is used in formulations with high skin permeation, will produce side effects of differentseverity. This study attempted to achieve a semi-solid DEET containing formulation withgood appearance, sufficient spreadity, suitable viscosity for tube and jar filling, compatible pHwith skin, reasonable stability, longer release time, and the less skin permeation. To obtainsuch a formulation, three types of DEET containing semi solids including gels (hydrophile),creams (emulsion) and ointments (lipophile), and their characteristics were compared with eachother and with Off! Brand. Results showed that one of the prepared creams with the properviscosity, stability, appearance and spreadity, had the least drug release in six hours and lessskin permeation of DEET as compared with Off!. Hence the preparation was introduced as theoptimal formulation.