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Not all ticks bite humans, but female ticks (as well as the nymphs, a.k.a.
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We asked experts to share the strategies that can help keep you safe.
Make your home less appealing to ticks.
Ticks like tohang out on the edgesof greenery, where animals and people tend to come by.
Strategic landscaping can make a big difference, so mow the grass and rake piles of leaves regularly.
(you could create this buffer using wood chips or rocks, for example.)
2. venture to cover up when youre spending lots of time outdoors.
Tuck your pants into your socks and your shirt into your pants.
Typically, this is when you look nerdy, he says.
(Thats how you know youre doing it right.)
So tucking helps prevent them from scurrying underneath your clothes.
The added tick protection is just another plus.
Treat your gear with permethrin, a powerful insecticide.
Permethrin is an insecticide, meaning it kills fleas,mosquitoes, ticks, and other bugs.
Permethrin is safe for kids and their clothing.
you’ve got the option to find options at outdoor stores likeREIor onAmazon.
When choosing a repellent, look for DEET first.
Products that are packed with it are widely available and super effective.
(For example, 10% DEET provides protection for about two hours.
Your products label should have more info about its lasting power.)
Try picaridin if your skin cant stand DEET.
Carefully check yourself for ticks when you get home.
Dont skip this step!
First, scan your clothing and check any gear you brought in with you, like a backpack.
A bathroom mirror can help you examine spots that might be hard to see, like your back.
Take a pass in and around your hair too.
If you submerge your body for 10 or 15 minutes, they will generally release if they are attached.
This can be important because certain tick-borne diseases are more prevalent in certain areas, Dr. Auwaerter says.
