From the Guidelines
To prevent tick bites, use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin, as recommended by the most recent guidelines 1. When outdoors, it is essential to take preventative measures to reduce the risk of tick bites.
- Wear protective clothing, including long-sleeved shirts, pants, socks, and closed-toe shoes, to prevent tick attachment 1.
- Treat clothing and gear with products containing permethrin, which remains effective through several washes 1.
- Stay on cleared trails and avoid walking through tall grass or brushy areas where ticks wait.
- After being outdoors, check your entire body for ticks, especially warm areas like armpits, groin, and hair, and remove them immediately using tweezers or forceps 1.
- Shower within two hours of coming indoors to wash away unattached ticks and put clothes in a hot dryer for 10 minutes to kill any ticks hiding in clothing. For pets, use veterinarian-recommended tick preventatives like Frontline, Nexgard, or Seresto collars, and keep lawns mowed short and remove leaf litter to reduce tick habitats around your home. It is crucial to note that prompt removal of attached ticks and prevention of attachment significantly reduces infection risk, as ticks need to attach for several hours to transmit diseases 1.
From the Research
Preventative Measures for Ticks
- Avoiding risk areas is a key strategy in preventing tick bites and Lyme disease 2
- Personal protective measures, such as using repellents and wearing protective clothing, can reduce the risk of tick bites 2, 3
- Reducing the number of infected ticks in the environment is also an important approach in preventing tick-borne diseases 2
- Prophylactic antibiotic treatments following a tick bite can help prevent clinical Lyme disease 2
Personal Protection Measures
- Using repellents, such as DEET, picaridin, and oil of lemon eucalyptus, can help prevent tick bites 3, 4, 5
- Wearing untreated or permethrin-treated protective clothing can also reduce the risk of tick bites 3, 4
- Conducting tick checks after coming inside and removing outdoor clothing can help detect and prevent tick bites 3
- Showering or bathing after being outdoors can also aid in detecting ticks on the skin 3