Permethrin for Ticks: Repelling and Preventing Diseases

Permethrin is a powerful tick repellent that can be applied to clothing, gear, and even skin to prevent tick bites. It's a synthetic version of a natural insecticide called pyrethrin, which is derived from chrysanthemum flowers.

This potent tick repellent can last for weeks, even after multiple washings, making it a convenient and effective solution for outdoor enthusiasts and people living in tick-prone areas.

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Permethrin is a synthetic insecticide that's been around since 1979, when it was first registered with the U.S. EPA. It's also FDA-approved for medical use in lice and scabies treatments.

Permethrin is different from deet, as it's not applied directly to the skin. Instead, you can buy clothing that's treated with it or treat your own clothing, shoes, and outdoor gear with permethrin spray.

Clothing treated with permethrin can be washed multiple times before losing its effectiveness, with a 2018 CDC study showing that such clothing still irritated ticks after 16 washes and 16 days of wear.

Some people find it more convenient to start with permethrin-treated pants, shirt, and shoes, rather than applying repellent and covering exposed skin every time they go out.

Treating your own clothes and gear requires some planning, as you should take them outside to spray them to avoid inhalation. Clothes should be completely dry before wearing them, which can take 2 to 4 hours.

Permethrin-treated items can be pricey, with pretreated shirts from Insect Shield running from $20 to more than $60.

Permethrin has been shown to be effective in preventing tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease.

To use permethrin effectively, treat your clothing with it by spraying it on, keeping a safe distance of 6 to 8 inches away from the clothing, and applying an even coat.

Permethrin is a key part of prevention, especially for outdoor enthusiasts like Quinteros who plan to hike through tick-infested areas.

Spray permethrin on clothing, keeping about 6 to 8 inches away from the fabric, and apply an even coat, then flip the clothing over to spray the back.

Wearing DEET-based repellent on exposed skin is also effective in preventing tick bites.

Together, permethrin-treated clothing and DEET-based repellent can be a very effective combination in preventing tick-borne diseases.

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Permethrin-treated clothing is a highly effective way to prevent tick bites, and it's been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency since 1979.

The EPA has periodically re-evaluated permethrin, and according to their website, all exposure scenarios showed that permethrin factory-treated clothing is unlikely to pose any significant immediate or long-term hazard to people wearing the clothing.

Even though permethrin-treated clothing is effective, less than 1 percent of study participants in a Lyme prevention study said they ever wear treated clothing.

According to the National Pesticide Information Center, some people who inadvertently get the insecticide spray on their skin may experience temporary tingling, redness, or irritation at that site, but not serious symptoms.

Researchers like Dr. Connally, who has no financial ties to makers of permethrin or treated clothes, wear permethrin-treated clothing to protect themselves while doing research.

She says, "When I think of the potentially serious illnesses that my family members or I could get from a single tick bite, I feel very comfortable wearing treated clothing."

Permethrin-treated clothing can be a game-changer for tick prevention, but it's essential to use it safely. You can either purchase pre-treated clothing or treat your own clothes with permethrin purchased from stores. Pre-treated clothing lasts about 70 washes, while DIY treated clothes last about 6 washes or 6 weeks, whichever elapses sooner.

To use permethrin safely, you should only spray it on clothing, gear, and inanimate objects. Never spray permethrin when you're wearing the clothing you want to treat, and make sure to keep away from pets and children during application. Wet permethrin is highly toxic to cats because they lack the liver enzyme to break it down.

Permethrin-treated clothing is considered a pesticide product, and as with any pesticide product, it must be marketed with a pesticide use label. The pesticide use label on such clothing is in the form of a "hang-tag", which is typically attached to the outside of the clothing. You must follow the directions and precautions on the "hang-tag" label that accompanies this clothing.

You should spray garments while off your body and allow clothing to dry completely before wearing. Re-treat as recommended by the product, and wash treated clothes separately. Combine permethrin with other methods like tick checks, long sleeves, showering after outdoor activity, and EPA-registered repellents on exposed skin.

Here's a quick rundown of the safety guidelines for using permethrin:

By following these guidelines, you can effectively use permethrin to prevent tick bites while minimizing the risks associated with its use.

Permethrin clothing options are a great way to protect yourself from ticks. You can either purchase pre-treated clothing or treat your own clothes with permethrin purchased from stores.

Pre-treated clothing lasts about 70 washes, making it a convenient option for those who want long-lasting protection. DIY treated clothes, on the other hand, last about 6 washes or 6 weeks, whichever elapses sooner.

If you decide to treat your own clothes, be sure to follow all label instructions. This includes spraying garments while off your body, keeping away from pets and children during application, and allowing clothing to dry before wearing.

Here are some key things to keep in mind when using permethrin on your clothes:

Permethrin's effectiveness against ticks is still present even after it has washed and worn out of your clothes. However, a 2019 study in the Journal of Medical Entomology found that the amount of permethrin remaining in professionally treated clothes after 16 rounds of washing and drying over an eight-week period is significantly reduced.

You can still get some protection from ticks even after several launderings, but the protection may not be as strong. A study found that after a year of use, just two of the 12 outdoor workers had pants that still contained high enough levels of permethrin to kill 30 percent or more of ticks.

If you live in a tick-heavy area, you may want to treat or retreat your clothes just before tick season starts, which is around May in places where blacklegged ticks are common.

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