Tick season’s tiny menace has a two-spray defense plan

Summer fun comes with a creepy little catch: ticks. NBC Selected, the shopping arm of NBC News, says experts recommend a two-track defense against bites, with permethrin-treated clothing and gear on one side and skin-safe repellents such as DEET or picaridin on the other.

The advice is aimed at helping people avoid tick bites and tick-related illnesses, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, according to NBC Selected and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What the experts recommend

Daniel Markowski, technical advisor at the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California, told NBC Selected that permethrin is the key ingredient to look for in tick-prevention clothing and accessories. The Environmental Protection Agency has approved permethrin for repelling biting and flying insects, including ticks, according to NBC Selected.

Markowski said permethrin is more of an insecticide than a repellent, so it belongs on clothing and equipment rather than bare skin. He told NBC Selected that treated pants or shoes may repel ticks and can even kill them before they attach if the items are properly treated.

For skin, Markowski pointed to DEET, also known as diethyl-meta-toluamide, as an EPA-approved active ingredient used in insect repellents. He called it highly effective in most situations and advised testing a small patch first to check for allergic reactions, according to NBC Selected.

Eva Buckner, an associate professor and extension specialist at the University of Florida’s Medical Entomology Laboratory, also cited DEET as an effective defense against ticks, according to NBC Selected. The report said picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus can also repel ticks, while DEET and picaridin products are intended for skin use.

Products singled out by NBC Selected

NBC Selected’s picks include Insect Shield Lightweight Hiker Socks, which the brand says are treated with permethrin and protect for up to 70 washes. The socks have a 4.8-star average rating from 340 shoppers at Insect Shield, according to NBC Selected.

For a body spray, NBC Selected highlighted Ben’s 100 Tick & Insect Repellent, a DEET-based pump spray sold on Amazon. The product listing cited by NBC Selected says it provides up to 10 hours of protection.

For clothes, tents, shoes and outdoor gear, NBC Selected chose Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent for Clothing, Gear and Tents. Sawyer says one application lasts up to six weeks and six washes, according to the report.

The list also includes Insect Shield’s Packable Hat, a permethrin-treated accessory with UPF 50+ sun protection, and Off! Deep Woods Insect Repellent Aerosol Bug Spray, a DEET-based spray the brand says also repels mosquitoes, biting flies and no-see-ums.

For children, NBC Selected noted Tick Socks, sold in sets of four and treated with permethrin. The brand says the socks come in several designs and can be washed like regular laundry.

How to cut tick risk

Markowski and Buckner told NBC Selected that the best way to avoid tick bites is to stay away from areas where ticks tend to live, including tall grass, wooded spots and leaf litter.

Markowski also advised removing tall grass and other tick-friendly resting areas around the home. He said wood chips can be used as a border to separate a yard from wooded areas and create a visible tick-free zone, according to NBC Selected.

The CDC recommends using permethrin-treated clothing and gear, including backpacks, chairs and tents, according to NBC Selected. The CDC also says tick products meant for people, clothing or gear should not be used on pets; animals should get tick preventives made for cats or dogs or prescribed by a veterinarian.

This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.