That may be true of permethrin creams; it is NOT the case with the product sold as a spray or dip. It is not, apparently, the permethrin, but the carrier.
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When going to the woods this week to mushroom hunt and totally bushwack in the brush, I will strip down and spray down with deet, then put my clothes on, which will be as I dress hiking, nylon shirt, pants, smartwool socks, and my or gaiters on as well,,the deet we buy today is pretty much watered down and doesn't do any damage to my clothing, but,,it will take the paint right off my fishing rods, and eat right thru nylon fishing line for example,,and have had my arm resting on the window of the toyota years ago, with the window down, taking the paint right off the metal. I also have a couple of small bottles of 100% deet. I wouldn't want to get that stuff on anything as it will eat right thru the stuff..so I sometimes get that in the palms of my hands and rub it on. You just have to be careful with deet and where and how you use it. I guess I have been pretty lucky using it but have had it eating paint and such before.
I sure don't want to get any deet on cuben material either.
I've seen some slight staining / dark discoloration when sprayed directly on nylon; nothing that impacts strength or durability though.
I was actually told by a physician that 100% deet will absorb through the skin and do liver damage. He thought I was crazy for spraying it on my skin. Then again docs can be ultra-precautionary.
That's also why I mentioned concentrations. I don't know any product that's 100% permethrin, but I know they sell 100% deet. Whether one is worse than the other, the way they are offered to the public are what they are.
Just a few thoughts on this.
First...Permethrin doesn't have to cover 100% of your body to be effective.
I typically treat my hammock, my hiking pants, a loose overshirt that I wear open as a jacket at night, and my sunhat.
I don't use any other kind of insect protection, discounting the bug net itself on my hammock.
Since I've started doing this, I've yet to get a mosquito bite or find an attached tick.
So I agree with others...I think you're better off going that route over dousing yourself in DEET. No risk to your hammock, no risk to your liver...there ya go.