Ticks Are Especially Bad This Year — Here’s What You Need To Know to Stay Protected
Preventing a tick bite is preferable to treating one, and prevention starts with being aware of your surroundings, covering up with clothes, and choosing the right tick repellent. Our list includes doctor-recommended and health editor–vetted products that contain CDC- and EPA-approved ingredients for adults and kids. Ahead, discover how to treat skin, clothes, and gear with a variety of tick repellents — including sprays, wipes, and stickers (yes, stickers!).
When to Consult a Doctor
DEET Tick Repellent Sprays for All-Day Protection


Safe for Your Skin and Clothes
Sawyer Premium Maxi Deet Insect Repellent Spray

For Woodsy Adventures
Ben’s 100 Tick & Insect Repellent
If you’re planning an outside adventure in an area with a densely populated insect and tick population, you want to give yourself extra protection. Ben’s 100 Tick & Insect Repellent formula contains the highest concentration of DEET on the market: 98.11 percent. At this concentration, a single application provides the longest possible repellency (up to 10 hours) against ticks and other biting insects.

A Sweat-Resistant Formula? Yes, Please
Off! Sportsmen Deep Woods Insect Repellent 3
Plant-Based Tick Sprays for Peace of Mind


Repel Ticks and Mosquitos Simultaneously
Natrapel Lemon Eucalyptus Tick & Insect Repellent

Smells Good and Safe for Kids
NatPat Buzz Spray Mosquito Repellent
Picaridin Tick Repellents to Confuse Those Pesky Insects


For Long-Lasting, Effective Protection
Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent
This particular formula is nongreasy, nonsticky, and lacks a strong odor, making it highly appealing for direct skin application. Kobets says 20 percent concentration is effective, which this formula contains. As a bonus, it won’t damage plastics or synthetic fabrics, making it safe for use on clothing, gear, and skin.

For an Odorless Result
Ranger Ready Repellent Scent Zero
Ranger Ready Repellent combines an effective 20 percent picaridin concentration with travel-friendly features. It offers long-lasting protection (up to 12 hours), which is crucial for travelers who need reliable protection without constant reapplications.
Importantly, picaridin is nondamaging to clothing, plastics, and gear, making it ideal for packing alongside luggage and electronics. Its no-scent formula is also a significant benefit when in close quarters during travel. Plus, it’s available in compact, Transportation Security Administration–compliant sizes, further cementing its status as a top travel companion. Our Everyday Health editors note that the trigger pump dispenser makes it easy to use without fear of spilling.
Tick Repellent Wipes and Stickers You Can Take With You


So Easy to Use, Kids Won’t Complain
NatPat Natural Mosquito Repellent Patches for Kids

Convenient Application Anywhere
Repel Mosquito and Tick Insect Repellent Wipes
Repel Insect Repellent Mosquito and Tick Wipes offer convenient application and an effective 12 percent picaridin concentration per wipe. The wipe format allows precise, controlled application, minimizing overspray and inhalation, and making it easy to target specific areas of the skin, especially for children (when applied by an adult).
The concentration per wipe ensures robust and reliable protection against ticks (up to 10 hours), making it appropriate for various outdoor activities. For quick, mess-free application on the go, especially when you want to avoid aerosols, these wipes are a standout solution.
Clothing and Gear Repellent for an Extra Layer of Protection

Treating clothes and gear with bug repellent is another important step in tick prevention. Our experts agreed permethrin-treated clothing is one of the best lines of defense against ticks. Permethrin bonds to fabric fibers and kills ticks on contact, providing an extra layer of protection beyond skin-applied repellents. Paul Arnaboldi, PhD, assistant professor of pathology, microbiology, and immunology at New York Medical College, explains that, “When ticks grab on to permethrin-treated clothing, they will fall off quickly rather than move around looking for a blood meal.”

To Kill the Ticks Before They Bite
Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent for Clothing, Gear & Tents
This concentration is specifically formulated for clothing and gear, offering long-lasting effectiveness through multiple washes (up to six washes or approximately six weeks). Its ability to kill ticks before they can bite, combined with its safety for use on clothing (once the product has dried), makes it an invaluable tool for serious outdoor enthusiasts and those in high-risk insect areas.

For Weeks of Protection, Not Hours
Repel Permethrin Clothing and Gear Insect Repellent

Barrier-Based Protection
Royal Robbins Women’s Expedition III L/S
In addition to treating your clothes, opt for clothing that doubles as barrier-based protection. This Royal Robbins shirt isn’t treated with chemicals to prevent ticks and mosquitoes; instead, the fabric is tightly woven, so insects can’t reach your skin, even if they want to. We love how the fabric also has SPF, so your skin is protected against the sun’s harmful rays. Editor Olivia Campbell found the recycled polyester shirt surprisingly lightweight and breathable, even in high temperatures. Note that it runs large; order your regular size if you prefer a looser fit, or size down for a more traditional fit.
Tick Removers and Tweezers


The Tool Experts Recommend
Cliganic Professional Slant and Point Tweezers Set

The Tool You Didn’t Know You Needed
TickCheck Tick Remover Pack
Bite Relief You’ll Always Want On Hand


To Reduce Swelling
Perfect Remedy 2-Pack Gel Ice Packs With Cover
To help reduce swelling from a tick bite, apply a cold compress for relief. We appreciate how this two-pack includes a soft cover with a strap to prevent ice burn and keep the cold compress secure. The packs are also microwaveable, so once your tick bite is long gone, throw these in the microwave and use them as heating pads for menstrual cramps, muscle pain relief, and more.

Relieve the Itch
Walgreens Calamine Lotion

Tackle Multiple Symptoms
Benadryl Allergy Antihistamine

Spray the Itch Away
Cortizone-10 Fast Acting Itch Relief Cooling Spray
How Can You Prevent Tick Bites?
All of our experts agree: Be aware and savvy about your environment. Ticks tend to hang out in tall grass or wooded areas and attach lower on the body. Dr. Arnaboldi says it’s best to walk toward the center of trails and stay out of grassy, wooded areas. In addition to using a tick repellent product, you should wear long pants and socks when hiking or gardening — physical barriers matter just as much as chemical ones.
Wesley Long, MD, PhD, medical director of diagnostic microbiology at Houston Methodist in Texas, recommends treating clothing with permethrin and applying topical insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin as an additional line of defense.
How Do You Check for Ticks?
Dr. Harkin recommends showering within two hours of checking to wash off any unattached ticks. Plus, he says it reduces the risk of Lyme disease “when done promptly.” Don’t forget to check your clothing and gear, as ticks can survive hours to days on clothes, he adds. Put your clothes in a hot dryer for more than 10 minutes, and be sure to check your four-legged family members for ticks, too.
How Do You Properly Remove and Dispose of a Tick?
To dispose of a tick, “place it in alcohol, a sealed bag [or] container, or flush it down the toilet,” says Harkin. “You may save it in a sealed container, with date and location noted, in case illness develops.”
What Diseases Are Transmitted by Ticks?
There are a variety of tick-borne illnesses in the United States:
- Lyme disease
- Babesiosis
- Alpha-gal syndrome
- Tularemia
- Anaplasmosis
“Different ticks tend to carry different infections, and incubation times can vary from a few days to weeks,” says Long. Lyme disease is “the most common vector-transmitted disease in North America, and is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi,” adds Arnaboldi. “However, it is far from the only one. The same ticks that transmit Lyme disease also transmit other infectious agents.” Those ticks, also known as “blacklegged ticks” or “deer ticks,” can cause other diseases, including anaplasmosis, relapsing fever, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and Powassan virus disease.
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