This year is predicted to be a particularly bad one for ticks and tick-borne diseases, whether you’re vacationing upstate or just going for a walk in Central Park. And June and July are especially dangerous, since ticks in the second stages of their life cycle cause the most cases of Lyme disease, says Richard Ostfeld, Ph.D., a disease ecologist with the Cary Institute in the Hudson Valley. Here are some ways to protect yourself from ticks.
The classics
Avoid shady, wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Repellent with DEET (from $4.47 on Amazon.com) is the most effective way to repel ticks, Ostfeld says, but those with picaridin or IR3535 work too.
Bring out the big guns
Repellents don’t actually kill ticks, so the best way to protect yourself from tick bites is to spray clothing — especially shoes and socks, which baby ticks love to latch onto — with permethrin ($9.97 on Amazon.com), Ostfeld says. Though the ticks may still find you, they’ll die before they have a chance to infect you.
Go holistic
Natural tick repellents include essential oils from rosemary, lemongrass, thyme, nootkatone and geraniol plants, according to the CDC. The EPA hasn’t registered them as repellents but some studies have shown that they do keep ticks away.
Keep Fido safe
Aside from topical ointments, sprays and collars, pet owners can naturally repel ticks with combinations of essential oils including those of cedar, cinnamon, clove, neem, eucalyptus, rose geranium and lavender, says New Jersey-based veterinarian Judy Morgan. A garlic clove mixed into their food (half a clove for small dogs) and coconut oil rubbed on their skin also help repel ticks.
What to look for
Take a shower soon after you get home. While you’re doing a tick check, tumble-dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any ticks that latched onto clothing.
How to get rid of a tick
Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible; slowly pull out in an upward motion; and then wash the area with rubbing alcohol. See your doctor if you experience flulike symptoms such as fever, headache, lethargy and body aches.