Permethrin Treated Clothing May Protect You from Tick-Borne Illnesses

Now that it’s summer, you should be taking precautions against tick-borne illnesses if you’re spending time outside. Ticks are notorious for spreading illnesses such as Lyme disease, Powassan virus and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. But clothing treated with permethrin may help keep you safe, according to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and published in the Journal of Medical Entomology. 

You may not know it, but ticks aren’t insects. Like spiders, they’re arachnids. And, also like spiders, their mode of travel is crawling. They don’t fly, jump or fall out of trees. They crawl up you, which means your protection should begin at your feet. This is why you should put on long pants and socks and tuck your pants into those socks before walking in grassy or wooded areas. It’s also why scientists are hoping clothing treated with permethrin works to help prevent the spread of Lyme disease. 

The CDC has been studying the efficacy of permethrin-treated clothing to control ticks. Permethrin is synthetic pesticide that affects the blacklegged tick, lone star tick and American dog tick. Permethrin is also used in medications to treat scabies and lice. You can find it in drug stores under the brand name Nix. It’s also sprayed on crops and livestock as protection from various insects. And it’s used as an active ingredient in pet flea and tick collars. 

Researchers found that within minutes of contact with permethrin clothing, ticks became sluggish and lost their ability to bite. And permethrin seems safe for humans because our skin doesn’t absorb it very well. What little is absorbed is quickly inactivated by your body.

“Chemically-treated clothes aren’t new,” says Bernard Kaminetsky, medical director, MDVIP. “Flame-retardant pajamas are doused with polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Some towns in the Northeast U.S. already have their outdoor municipal employees wearing permethrin-treated uniforms during the summer because it protects employees and reduces worker compensation claims for tick-borne diseases.”   

The CDC recommends outdoor apparel and gear such as pants, socks, boots and tents be treated with 0.5 percent permethrin. Some sporting goods sell pre-permethrin treated products. But you can also send your apparel and gear into companies that will treat it for you. You can also buy permethrin spray and treat your items yourself.  

If you’re a little hesitant to wear permethrin-treated items, there are other ways to help protect yourself from ticks. Here are a few.

Before going outside:

• Dress in long sleeves, long pants and socks.
• Wear insect-repellent clothing.
• Apply insect repellent to your skin. Generally, products with DEET and picaridin are effective. If you prefer natural ingredients over synthetic chemicals, the CDC suggests products that contain garlic oil, 2-undecanone, nootkatone and/or mixed essential oils (rosemary, lemongrass, cedar, peppermint, thyme and geraniol).    

While outside:

• Stay away from brush areas and piles of leaves.
• Check for ticks while you’re outside. They can be as small as poppy seeds, so thoroughly check your skin, shoes and clothing.

After coming home:

• Run your clothing through a dryer for about 10 minutes.
• Take a hot shower and scan your body for unexplained bumps and spots.

Need some summer health advice? Talk to your MDVIP-affiliated physician. Looking for a primary care physician? Physicians in MDVIP-affiliated practices can customize a wellness plan for you. Find an MDVIP affiliate near you and begin your partnership in health »