Stay Safe: Outsmart Ticks This Season

 7 Strategies to Sidestep Tick Bites and Deter Tick-Transmitted Illnesses

Tick season is extending longer than ever.

Ticks are minuscule blood-feeding parasites that can transmit pathogens and diseases.1 Although tick season in the U.S. traditionally takes place from April to October, rising temperatures have prolonged it earlier in spring and later into fall.2 In some states, like California, ticks are active all year round.3

Reports of tick bites are increasing, and so are tick-associated illnesses such as Lyme disease. If you are enjoying the outdoors, here are some strategies to stay protected.

1. Ensure Tick Safety in Your Own Yard

Ticks thrive in grassy or wooded regions, but they can also be found in your own yard.4

"Many individuals don't link their backyard with danger for tick bites, which is actually elevating the risk of people being bitten by ticks in their own property,"

In tick-prone areas, it's smart to apply insect repellent even in your garden. You can create a barrier between your property and wooded areas using wood chips or gravel, or construct a fence to keep deer and other tick carriers at bay.5

"Mowing the lawn regularly is also recommended to avoid tall grass, as tall grass provides an ideal habitat for ticks,"

2. Apply Repellent When Venturing Outdoors

Insect repellent sprays, lotions, and wipes provide protection against tick bites. Products containing DEET and picaridin are the most effective, but natural alternatives, like oil of lemon eucalyptus, also give some degree of protection.6

 "Every time people go outside for a forest walk or when they are gardening in their own yard," Toledo advised.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) offers a search tool to help you select the appropriate repellent based on the duration of protection needed and your preferred active ingredient. EPA-registered insect repellents undergo safety and effectiveness testing before they are available for purchase.67

When going outdoors, apply sunscreen before insect repellent. Avoid applying repellent directly to your face or on any open cuts on your skin.

3. Don Light Colored Long-Sleeve Shirts and Pants

Wearing the right attire can help you evade tick bites. In tick-prone regions, don closed-toe shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts.  For extra protection, it is a good idea to tuck your shirt and pants into your socks.8 You should also think about applying a repellent containing permethrin 

"It's quite challenging to detect a tick on dark clothing. Hence, light colors are preferable when venturing outside, as it's easier to spot ticks on them,"

After your outdoor activities, toss your clothes in a high-heat dryer cycle for ten minutes to eliminate any ticks that may have crawled onto your garments.4

4. Shower and Inspect for Ticks Immediately

  When you get back inside, you should take a shower and check yourself for ticks.. Don't forget to check your hair, underarms, belly button, around your ears, and behind your knees.4

Discovering ticks promptly can reduce the risk of Lyme disease. Ticks usually need at least 24 hours to transfer the bacterium to their host.9 

"The chance of contracting Lyme disease or any other bacterial illness through a tick bite within the first 24 to 48 hours is exceptionally low,"

5. Remove Ticks Carefully

If you find a tick on your body, extract it using fine-tipped tweezers. Hold the tick close to your skin and remove it right away.  . Aim to remove it in one go without twisting the body. Afterward, clean the area with soap or rubbing alcohol and water.8

"We sometimes observe infections or reactions stemming from improper removal techniques like burning or squeezing the tick,"

If the tick remains attached for over 36 hours or if you develop symptoms post-removal, consult a trusted healthcare provider. Sometimes, individuals receive a single dose of the antibiotic doxycycline for disease prevention, Ng suggested.10

6. Ticks Can Bite in Winter

The warming climate due to climate change has led to more active and prolonged tick seasons.1112

  Deer ticks, which are known to spread Lyme disease, prefer temperatures above 45˚F.

People also take advantage of milder winters, increasing outdoor activity, leading to more encounters with ticks and themselves and potentially causing more diseases.

7. Bull's Eye Rash Isn't the Only Indicator of Tick Bite

 You should monitor your symptoms for 30 days following a tick bite.   Watch for headaches, fever, joint pain, fatigue, muscle aches, and rashes.13

"The rash that people often associate with tick bites is the bull's eye rash, but this is actually quite rare in most cases,"

Typically, the rash isn't itchy. It is often red and expands in size. This rash can be hard to notice on darker skin tones.14