Prevent tick bites with DEET, permethrin, and tick checks

Apply DEET-based repellent (20-30% concentration) to exposed skin and treat clothing with 0.5% permethrin spray before entering tick habitat. Wear long pants tucked into socks and light-colored clothing to spot ticks easily. Perform full-body tick checks within 2 hours of returning indoors, paying special attention to hairline, armpits, groin, and behind the ears.

Why It Works

DEET repels ticks on contact while permethrin kills ticks that crawl on treated fabric. Together they reduce tick attachment by over 90%. Since Borrelia transmission typically requires 36-48 hours of attachment, finding and removing ticks promptly is highly effective at preventing infection. Removing a tick within 24 hours greatly reduces transmission risk.

Tips

• Permethrin-treated clothing remains effective through 6 washes
• Tumble dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes after outdoor exposure to kill any attached ticks
• Shower within 2 hours of coming indoors to wash off unattached ticks
• Use a lint roller on clothing as a quick initial tick check