How To Protect Yourself Against Tick Bites

Ticks are small arachnids that you can find in grassy, overgrown and wooded areas around the world. Some varieties are just a nuisance. But others can spread dangerous infections like Lyme disease.

During tick season — usually April through September in the northern hemisphere — it’s important to keep your eyes peeled and your tweezers ready.

How to avoid being bitten

Ticks can spread several diseases, including:

• Lyme disease
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Ehrlichiosis

The best way to avoid Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections? Don’t get bitten! Emergency physician Christopher Bazzoli, MD, gives us a crash course on the finer points of tick bite prevention.

Avoid tick-friendly areas

When you’re out hiking or camping, stay in clearer areas with less grass and overgrowth. If there are trails available, stick to them as much as possible and try to walk down the center of the path.

Dr. Bazzoli’s other advice? Don’t assume that the rugged wilderness is the only place ticks can pop up.

It’s always possible to pick up a tick, regardless of geography or landscape. If you’re rolling around in the grass during tick season, you’re at risk — no matter how urban your neighborhood is.

“You can sometimes even find ticks in your yard, especially if it’s overgrown,” he says. “A well-cut lawn is less likely to house ticks, but it’s still possible. So, keep on guard during the warmer months of the year.”

Do tick checks

“It’s really important to do tick checks twice a day if you’re out in potential tick environments,” Dr. Bazzoli advises. “It’s a crucial part of preventing disease transmission. Be sure to check all the nooks and crannies!”

If you can’t get eyes on those nooks and crannies yourself, Dr. Bazzoli recommends enlisting the help of a tick-check buddy. They can check the places that are difficult for you to see.

Why do tick checks twice a day?

“It typically takes 48 to 72 hours for a tick to infect a human with the Lyme disease bacteria,” he explains. “If a tick falls into your hair or makes its way to a spot that’s hard for you to see, like your armpit or groin, it could attach itself and be there long enough to infect you. The key is to find and remove them early.”

Wear the right clothes

Wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts may not be your first choice for a warm-weather hike. But it’s the best way to keep ticks from coming along for the ride.

“Try to wear light colors,” Dr. Bazzoli suggests. “Ticks can be small and are easier to spot if you aren’t wearing dark clothes.”

He also advises tucking your pant legs into your socks or shoes.

“By tucking in those pant legs, you cut down on the chances of a tick being picked up from grass or lower bushes and crawling up your legs,” he says.

Use bug sprays

When it comes to bug sprays to prevent ticks, Dr. Bazzoli has two recommendations.

• DEET or picaridin-based repellants are safe to apply to your skin. While they’re most commonly used for mosquitoes, several popular brands also make tick sprays. And yes: They’re safe for children and pregnant women.
• Permethrin is a plant-based chemical you can spray on your clothing. But it can cause irritation and itching if it comes in contact with skin, so be very careful when applying it. If you’d rather not take the risk, purchase clothes with permethrin already applied.

“Between the permethrin, DEET or picaridin sprays and the protective clothing, you should have a very low risk of acquiring ticks and tick-borne diseases,” says Dr. Bazzoli.

Not sure if your repellent of choice will protect against ticks? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a database you can check.

Check your furry friends

Being a homebody doesn’t eliminate your tick bite risk. After all, your four-legged friends can double as public transit for ticks.

“Your pets and animals can bring ticks home to you from an overgrown or wooded area that they went and explored,” says Dr. Bazzoli.

Check them thoroughly in the morning and at night in the warmer months. And be sure to keep up with their flea and tick prevention medication. They’ll appreciate your attention, and you’ll appreciate being in a tick-free house!

Final thoughts

When it comes to tick bites, prevention is the best medicine. But it’s not always possible. If you spot a tick crawling on you, swipe it off your skin, take a deep breath, and relax. Ticks can’t make you sick without attaching themselves to your body. You’re in the clear!

And if the tick is latched? Carefully remove it. If you need help deciding whether to see a healthcare provider, call their office to ask, or check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Tick Bite Bot. Answering a quick series of questions is all it takes to determine whether you need medical treatment.