What is the Difference Between Permethrin and Cypermethrin

The key difference between permethrin and cypermethrin is that permethrin is a synthetic insecticide, whereas cypermethrin is a pyrethroid insecticide and acaricide.

Permethrin and cypermethrin are important toxic substances that are useful in our day-to-day life. These are very useful to humans but can be toxic to some small creatures.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Permethrin 
3. What is Cypermethrin
4. Permethrin vs Cypermethrin in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Permethrin vs Cypermethrin

What is Permethrin?

Permethrin is a medication that is sold under the brand name Nix, and it is useful in treating scabies and lice. Therefore, we can also describe it as an insecticide. We can simply apply this medicine to the skin as a cream or lotion. Moreover, when using it as an insecticide, we can spray it onto clothing or mosquito nets in order to kill the insects that touch them.

The route of administration for permethrin is topical. When considering the metabolism of permethrin, it can affect insects more than humans or dogs. This is because insects cannot metabolize the toxin as quickly as humans and dogs do. However, cats are more sensitive to this toxin.

There can be some side effects of permethrin, including rash and irritation at the area of use. However, using this medication during pregnancy appears to be safe. This medicine is a member of the pyrethroid family. It can work by disrupting the function of the neurons of the lice and scabies mites.

There are different uses of permethrin: using it as an insecticide (in agricultural purposes, for domestic and industrial purposes, etc.), using it as an insect propellant as a personal protective measure, and in timber treatment, medical uses such as prevention of head lice, etc.

What is Cypermethrin?

Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid that is useful as an insecticide and in consumer products used for domestic purposes. This substance has applications in large-scale commercial agricultural purposes. Moreover, it can behave as a fast-acting neurotoxin for insects. Cypermethrin easily degrades on soil and plants, and it can be effective for weeks when applied to indoor inert surfaces. However, if the substance is exposed to sunlight, water, and oxygen, the decomposition tends to accelerate.

Cypermethrin is toxic to fish and bees. According to the National Pesticides Telecommunication Network (NPTN), this substance is toxic also to aquatic insects. We can find it in many household ants and cockroach killers.

This toxin is found to be moderately toxic through skin contact or ingestion. It can also cause irritation to the skin and eyes. Moreover, there can be some symptoms of dermal exposure: numbness, tingling, itching, burning sensation, loss of bladder control, incoordination, seizures, and possible death.

What is the Difference Between Permethrin and Cypermethrin?

Permethrin and cypermethrin are important toxic substances that are useful in our day-to-day life. These are very useful to humans but can be toxic to some small creatures. The key difference between permethrin and cypermethrin is that permethrin is a synthetic insecticide, whereas cypermethrin is a pyrethroid insecticide and acaricide.

The below infographic presents the differences between permethrin and cypermethrin in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Permethrin vs Cypermethrin

Permethrin is a medication that is sold under the brand name Nix, and it is useful in treating scabies and lice. Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid that is useful as an insecticide and in consumer products used for domestic purposes. The key difference between permethrin and cypermethrin is that permethrin is a synthetic insecticide, whereas cypermethrin is a pyrethroid insecticide and acaricide.

Reference:

1. “Cypermethrin.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Permethrin-2D-skeletal” (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Alpha-cypermethrin” By Bryan Derksen – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia