How To Repel Ticks With A Powerful, Chemical Fix

While you might be repulsed by the mere sight of a tick, these small arachnids pose an even bigger problem than their creepy appearance. They can potentially spread viruses, parasites, and bacteria through their bites. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the United States, and while it's curable if caught early, it can still lead to long-term symptoms, especially when left untreated. The best way to avoid the host of problems that can come from a tick bite is to prevent bites altogether. While no strategy is 100 percent effective, a powerful chemical called permethrin can repel ticks when sprayed on clothes and shoes.

Permethrin is a synthetic chemical that mimics extracts from chrysanthemums. It's toxic to insects, affecting their nervous system. This means if a tick crawls on a permethrin-treated piece of clothing, it's likely to become affected and fall off. If you go camping or hiking often, you can even purchase clothing treated with this chemical. And according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it's the only insecticide currently used in factory-based treatment of clothes for insect defense. If your lawn is the problem, not the woods or a field, you may also want to look into how and when to spray your yard for ticks, or invest in some plants with smells that ticks can't stand.

Continue reading to learn more about repelling ticks, written by Katie Barton.