You don’t want to be exposed to Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Q fever and other tick-borne diseases. That’s why it’s important to know how to protect yourself. There are different kinds of repellents on the market now which all have pros and cons depending on your needs and preferences. Here’s some information that can help you choose the right one. Tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active during warmer months (April-September). Know which ticks are most common in your area.
There are many tick and insect repellent products from which to choose. Each of these products contains one or more active ingredients, listed on the label. Some common active ingredients in repellent products include:
Insect Repellent For Ticks
- DEET (the label may say N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) products have been widely used for many years and come in many different concentrations, some as high as 100 percent.
- Picaridin (the label may say KBR 3023) is a colorless, nearly odorless active ingredient for use in repellent products. Products containing picaridin are about as effective in repelling mosquitoes as products containing similar concentrations of DEET.
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) is an active ingredient found naturally in eucalyptus trees. It has a distinctive odor and products containing OLE are about as effective in repelling mosquitoes as lower concentration DEET products.
- P-menthane 3,8-diol is a man-made version of oil of lemon eucalyptus and has similar repellent properties.
- IR3535 is another active ingredient in insect repellent products; but in some cases these products also contain sunscreen and moisturizers. Avoid combination products. Sunscreen and moisturizers should be applied generously, whereas repellents should be applied sparingly.
- Permethrin is different from other repellent active ingredients in that it kills ticks and insects that come into contact with it. Permethrin-containing repellent products are only registered for use on clothing, not on skin. Permethrin on treated clothes remains effective through several washings.
Insect repellent products containing botanical oils, such as oil of geranium, cedar, lemongrass, soy or citronella, are also available. Because most botanical oils are not regulated the same as the active ingredients above, they have not been tested for their potential to cause health effects or their effectiveness as a repellent. However, the information available on these products indicates that they generally have limited effectiveness in repelling ticks and insects.
Reduce the need for repellents by dressing in long-sleeved shirts, and long pants with bottoms tucked into boots or socks.
Reduce your Risk
Many repellents can cause eye and skin irritation, particularly if they are not used properly. To reduce the risk of such effects, follow these general guidelines:
- Use repellent products registered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – the labels will have an EPA Registration Number- because they have been tested for toxicity and effectiveness. To find out more about insect repellents and how long specific repellent products work against specific pests, visit the EPA website.
- Do not overuse repellent – only apply as much as you need to provide protection. If longer protection is needed, reapply. Avoid the use of DEET products containing more than 30-35% DEET.
- Read and follow label directions before you use any kind of repellent. On the labels, you will find important information about how much repellent to apply and how often, whether it can be applied to skin and/or clothing, special instructions for children, hazards to humans, physical or chemical hazards and first aid.
Insect Repellent For Ticks
Ticks are an insect that feeds on the blood of mammals, including humans. They are found in most parts of the world and can be extremely dangerous if they attach themselves to a person’s skin and begin feeding. Some ticks can carry disease-causing organisms that can cause serious illness, such as Lyme disease.
Insect repellent is one way to prevent ticks from attaching themselves to your skin. A repellent contains active ingredients that when applied to the skin create a barrier that repels or prevents insects from landing on your body and biting you. This article discusses how to choose the best insect repellent for ticks so you can protect yourself from these dangerous pests when outdoors this summer!
List Of Insect Repellent For Ticks
Price : $9.98 ($1.25 / Ounce)
Features :
- DEET mosquito repellent formulated with 25% DEET
- Repels mosquitoes that may carry the Zika, Dengue, or West Nile viruses
- Long-lasting protection from mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, gnats and chiggers
- Tick repellent that protects against ticks that may carry Lyme disease
- Powder-dry insect repelling formula – not oily or greasy
Additional Info :
| Color | Multi |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 6.4 Inches |
| Width | 3.63 Inches |
| Length | 1.81 Inches |
| Weight | 0.83125 Pounds |
| Release Date | 2016-05-05T00:00:01Z |
Price : $29.99
Features :
- Add a layer of protection to your clothing and gear with Permethrin insect and tick repellent spray — perfect for use on shirts, jackets, pants, socks, shoes, boots, sleeping bags, tents, netting, when outdoors, camping, hunting, or on travel
- Ideal for backpacking, backyard BBQs, and other outdoor activities, it’s effective against more than 55 kinds of insects — from disease-spreading ticks (Lyme disease) and mosquitoes (West Nile and Zika viruses) to chiggers, spiders, mites, and more
- Permethrin spray bonds to fabric fibers for up to 6 weeks or through 6 washings (whichever comes first) and won’t stain or damage clothing, fabrics, plastics, finished surfaces, or outdoor gear; oderless after drying
- Reduce likelihood of a tick bite by 73.6 times by treating shoes and socks with Permethrin (University of Rhode Island study – 2017)
- Each 24-ounce trigger spray bottle treats five complete outfits (updated EPA dosage is 4.5 ounces per outfit consisting of shirt, pants, and socks); maximize protection by pairing with Sawyer Picaridin topical repellent for the skin
Additional Info :
| Color | Yellow |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 8 Inches |
| Width | 6 Inches |
| Length | 4 Inches |
Price : $15.98 ($1.33 / Fl Oz)
Features :
- Locking cap prevents accidental sprays from happening to your hiking pack or hunting gear
- Eco-Spray can delivers even, continuous spray without releasing harmful aerosols
- 30% DEET is the minimum recommended to guard against mosquitoes and other harmful biting insects
- Water-based formula stays on skin’s surface rather than being absorbed
- Fragrance free formula allows you to smell the great outdoors, not your repellent
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Weight | 1.04 Pounds |
Price : $11.99
Features :
- Safe for use on the whole family, long-lasting insect and tick repellent spray deters a wide variety of pests — up to 12 hours against mosquitoes and ticks and up to 8 hours against flies, gnats, and chiggers
- Fragrance-free topical insect repellent with 20% Picaridin — more effective at repelling biting flies than DEET; repels disease-spreading ticks (Lyme, tick-borne encephalitis) and mosquitoes (West Nile, Dengue, and Zika viruses), chiggers, and more
- Very comfortable to wear on your skin, it’s ideal for all your outdoor adventures, from camping, backpacking, hunting, and fishing to backyard BBQs, sporting events, days at the park, and more
- Non-greasy; dries quickly and won’t damage plastics or synthetic coatings — safe for use on clothing, backpacks, watches, sunglasses, fishing line, firearm finishes, and more; two 6-oz Bag-on-Valve (BOV) cans; sprays evenly in any orientation
- Top rated bug repellent by WireCutter/New York Times (May, 2020); maximize protection by pairing with Sawyer Permethrin tick and insect repellent spray for clothing and gear
Additional Info :
| Color | Blue |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 9 Inches |
| Width | 6 Inches |
| Length | 3 Inches |
| Weight | 1 Pounds |
Price : $10.99 ($0.92 / Fl Oz)
Features :
- REPELS: Create a barrier against mosquitoes, including those that may transmit the Zika, West Nile, Dengue and Chikungunya viruses, ticks, gnats, biting flies, chiggers and fleas
- CONTAINS 40% DEET: Provides long-lasting protection in the great outdoors
- DEVELOPED FOR OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS: Especially for campers, backpackers, golfers, hunters, bikers, hikers, joggers, ball players and others who are active outdoors
- LASTING PROTECTION: Long-lasting protection ensures that you have the toughest repellent for any adventure, provides up to 8-Hours of protection
- Repels mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, biting flies, chiggers and fleas
- Provides up to 8-Hours of protection
- 40-Percent DEET
- Repels mosquitoes that may transmit the Chikungunya, Zika, Dengue and West Nile viruses
Additional Info :
| Color | Green |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 7.5 Inches |
| Width | 5.26 Inches |
| Length | 1.44 Inches |
| Weight | 0.55 Pounds |