Ticks carry pathogens that can cause several diseases including Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Lyme disease has now been documented in ALL 50 STATES, and cases continue to rise.
Ticks are active any time temperatures are above freezing, as long as the ground isn’t frozen (32˚ F or more), but most active in the spring and fall.
Ticks can transmit a variety of diseases from animals to humans. Here are some suggestions I’ve found helpful in avoiding them:
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Cover skin as much as possible with clothing
Long pants and sleeves offer the best protection. Tuck in your shirt. Wear a hat. Choose light-colored clothing whenever possible, since Ticks are more easily spotted on them. (When you get home, run clothing through a hot dryer first and then wash clothing immediately in hot water (lower temperatures will not kill ticks.) -
Use Repellents
The CDC recommends Permethrin (more effective than DEET) as a repellent that can be applied to clothing (and shoes) and will last up to 6 washes. It is non-staining and odorless once dry. It can also be applied to dogs and will help control mosquitos and fleas for about a month and ticks up to 6 weeks. -
Avoid tick-infested areas
Ticks hang out on tall grasses and thick brush, waiting to latch onto you as you walk by. Keep on cleared paths and wide trails as much as possible. -
Check yourself, family and pets for ticks frequently
If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove it immediately with tweezers by grabbing the tick as close to the skin as possible and gently pulling it straight out. Keep in mind that ticks can be as small as the head of a pin. Don’t crush them, causing them to release pathogens into your bloodstream or onto your skin. Dispose of the tick by enclosing it in tape or sealing in a zip-lock bag. Wash the bite area with soap and water, then use antibiotic cream if available. -
If you are bitten by a tick, visit your doctor to be tested.
Trust me on this. If you have Lyme Disease, you want to catch it early! Keep in mind that the incubation period for tick-borne diseases is 1-2 weeks, but symptoms may not show up for several weeks. (A note from personal experience: Lyme tests can be unreliable and timing is a huge factor in the results you get. If you have a negative test result yet experience symptoms in the future, consider getting retested. 4-6 weeks after infection is said to be the most effective time to test, according to the CDC.)
Lyme disease symptoms include rash, fever/chills, fatigue, neck stiffness, headaches or pain in muscles and joints. It’s important to note that tick bites can cause a distinctive “bulls-eye” rash, but not all those affected will get a rash. Left untreated, the infection can spread to the nervous system, heart, and joints.
I was not aware of any of these symptoms and I suspect I had Lyme for many years before receiving a diagnosis. By then, I had rampant inflammation, chronic fatigue, and an Epstein Barr infection to boot. Years after diagnosis, I’m still recovering from Lyme and EBV. I love being outdoors enough to risk heading out again, but will be much more cautious than I was in the past and encourage others to do so as well!
Permethrin Spray
A recent study shows that wearing Permethrin-treated clothing incapacitated ticks. While Permethrin spray is perfect for clothing, avoid using chemical bug sprays on your skin. Instead, try the homemade natural bug spray recipe below.
DIY Natural Bug Spray:
¼ cup Witch Hazel
5 drops Citronella Essential Oil
5 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
5 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil
1 teaspoon Rubbing Alcohol
Add to a spray bottle. (Spray bottles like the one pictured can be found on Amazon)
In the nymph stage, they can be as small as the head of a pin.
We can’t stop living in an effort to avoid all the diseases out there, but by taking a few simple precautions, we can enjoy the great outdoors and protect our health!
