How can I protect myself from ticks? - briefly
Use tick‑resistant clothing, apply EPA‑registered repellents (e.g., DEET, picaridin), and perform thorough body checks after outdoor activities. Keep surrounding vegetation trimmed and treat pets with veterinarian‑approved preventatives.
How can I protect myself from ticks? - in detail
Ticks attach to skin while moving through vegetation. Prevention begins with reducing exposure and eliminating opportunities for attachment.
Wear light‑colored, tightly woven clothing that covers the entire body. Tuck shirts into trousers and pull socks over the lower pant leg. Apply a repellent containing 20 %–30 % DEET, 0.5 % picaridin, or 5 % permethrin to clothing and exposed skin. Reapply according to product instructions, especially after sweating or swimming.
Perform a systematic body check within two hours of leaving a tick‑infested area. Examine scalp, behind ears, underarms, groin, and behind knees. Use a fine‑toothed comb or tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady pressure. Disinfect the bite site afterward.
Modify the environment to lower tick density. Keep lawns mowed short, remove leaf litter, and create a barrier of wood chips or gravel between wooded areas and recreational zones. Apply acaricides to high‑risk zones following label directions. Encourage wildlife hosts to avoid residential yards by installing fencing or using deer‑deterring devices.
Treat companion animals with veterinarian‑approved tick preventatives. Inspect pets after outdoor activity and wash bedding regularly. When traveling to endemic regions, research local tick species and recommended prophylactic measures.
If a tick remains attached for more than 24 hours, seek medical evaluation. Monitor the bite area for rash, fever, or flu‑like symptoms over the ensuing weeks, and report any changes to a healthcare professional.