What Are My Options for Tick Repellent?

When it’s summertime, the livin’ is … likely to include ticks. Although you have plenty of options for summer and year-round tick protection, it can be challenging to sort through your options.

Tick repellents vary in how effective they are against different types of ticks. Look for formulas that work against a number of species.

The best tick repellent for you largely depends on:

• how long you need it to last
• exactly what insects you need to protect against
• the repellent’s main active ingredient

The Environmental Protection Agency offers an interactive website that allows users to find the right repellent among dozens that are registered. Click on this link to find the agency’s search tool. 

The most common and most effective tick repellents are derived from synthetic, or man-made, chemicals.

DEET

DEET is generally recommended by public health officials for repelling ticks. Though useful, it’s considered less effective against ticks than permethrin or piperidines. Make sure the compound is listed among the active ingredients if you are opting for a traditional repellent. Use a formula with 20 to 30 percent DEET.

DEET can be found in products marketed as Bug Off, Cutter, and Off! Deep Woods. You can use DEET directly on skin or clothing, though it can damage some synthetic fabrics.

Permethrin

Permethrin is also widely recommended for avoiding tick-borne disease. It’s meant to be used on fabrics such as clothing, bed nets, and other kinds of gear. You shouldn’t apply permethrin to your skin. Instead, apply permethrin to clothing before getting dressed.

Picaridin

Picaridin was developed in the 1980s. The EPA describes it as very low in toxicity and nearly odorless. It’s one of a larger group of popular repellents known as piperidines. It can repel a variety of insects in addition to ticks.

Some brands that contain picaridin are Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Picaridin, Cutter Advanced, and Off! Active.

IR3535

The EPA categorizes IR3535 as a biopesticide, meaning it’s derived from natural materials. This compound had been used in Europe for 20 years when it was approved by the EPA in 1999. It has a chemical structure similar to a naturally occurring amino acid. It can cause eye irritation but has no other reported side effects. When compared to DEET, it’s less irritating to mucous membranes and less toxic.

Products with IR3535 include Avon Skin So Soft and Bug Repell (each in various formulas), and Coleman Skin Smart Insect Repellent.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus/PMD

This compound falls on the spectrum between synthetic repellents and botanicals. It’s a biochemical pesticide, a naturally occurring ingredient that controls pests by nontoxic mechanisms. It undergoes less EPA safety testing than synthetic chemical pesticides do. Unlike botanicals, biochemical pesticides do have to show their effectiveness.

PMD is the abbreviation for a very high concentration of oil of lemon eucalyptus. The concentrate isn’t comparable to the unprocessed oil of the tree from which it’s derived.

The brand names of products with oil of lemon eucalyptus marketed against ticks include Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus.

The Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization, evaluated bug repellents for their effectiveness, safety, and ability to repel a variety of insects. They recommended repellents with picaridin, IR3535, DEET, and oil of lemon eucalyptus/PMD.

Check out: Tick removal »

Plant-based compounds are required to undergo much less testing than synthetic products marketed against ticks, so there is less information about their effectiveness. The CDC states that botanicals are not effective against ticks.

Below are some of the common oils used for tick repellent. They should be used in limited amounts to avoid irritation. They may contain plant materials that cause an allergic reaction:

• castor oil
• cedar oil
• citronella oil
• clove oil
• oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD 65 percent)
• lemongrass oil
• peppermint oil
• rosemary oil
• soybean oil

Regardless of the repellent you use, you should follow these general guidelines:

• Follow the instructions on the product label.
• Don’t use repellents under clothing.
• Don’t use repellents on cuts or irritated skin.
• Don’t use repellents near the mouth or eyes and use them sparingly around the ears.
• When using spray products, spray the repellent on your hands first, then apply it to your face.
• Use just enough repellent to lightly cover exposed skin or clothing. Don’t overuse.

You should also heed special precautions for using repellents on and around children:

• Keep repellents out of the reach of children.
• Don’t allow children to apply repellents themselves.
• Don’t apply repellents directly to children. Apply to your own hands and then put it on the child.
• When applying repellents, avoid the child's face and hands.

Pay attention to the age restrictions on packaging. Many repellents aren’t recommended for children under 3.

The Environmental Working Group advises against products that contain both a bug repellent and a sunscreen. Sunscreens generally have to be reapplied more often than bug repellent. Too frequent use of a bug repellent could be toxic, the organization advises.

Don’t assume your pets can use the same chemicals you do to avoid tick-borne disease. For dogs, look for chemicals that kill ticks in the form of:

• dusts
• impregnated collars
• sprays
• topical treatments

Ask your veterinarian about how to protect your cat. Feline friends are much more sensitive to these compounds.

Tick-killing compounds recommended for your dog include Fipronil, pyrethroids such as permethrin, and Amitraz. These are applied to the outside of a dog. The pyrethroids can also repel.

No matter which repellent you use, the CDC has some advice for avoiding ticks in the first place. Avoid underbrush and leaf litter. Walk in the center of trails, as ticks are less likely to jump across open spaces to find you. These recommendations apply year round, but particularly between April and September.

Keep reading: Is it Lyme disease? Check your symptoms »

We pick these items based on the quality of the products, and list the pros and cons of each to help you determine which will work best for you. We partner with some of the companies that sell these products, which means Healthline may receive a portion of the revenues when you buy something using the links in this article.