How to protect yourself from ticks year-round

Lessons on How to protect yourself from ticks year-round

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ticks can be active in any season and it's important to check for and remove the bloodsuckers as quickly as possible — especially after you've been outside hiking, gardening or enjoying nature.

The best approach is to minimize tick exposure altogether, says Dr. James Nandi, a Washington DC-based dermatologist who specializes in skin disorders. That means avoiding wooded areas when you can.

But if you have to go into the woods, wear light-colored clothing so that it's easier to spot ticks that are crawling or clinging onto your pants or shirt.

Wearing long sleeves and pants will keep ticks from getting on exposed skin as well. You may want to use a chemical repellent, but do not put DEET-containing products directly on your skin; instead, apply the repellent to your clothing (if it's approved for this use), or wear an EPA-registered bug repellent.

When you get home, remove and wash all clothes that were worn outside. And take a shower yourself as soon as possible, to minimize tick exposure.

Checking Yourself

If you find a tick attached to your body, the first thing to do is not to panic. Try to remove it carefully using fine-tipped tweezers or a special tick-removal tool (do not touch it with your fingers), and then call your healthcare provider for further instructions.

In terms of prevention, Nandi says there are ways to make yourself less attractive to ticks. For instance, try to keep the grass short in your yard — ticks don't like walking on tall blades of grass.

You can also use a chemical tick repellent in areas where you have pets or people who spend time outside.

And when you bring pets into the home, be sure they're checked for ticks immediately, Nandi says.

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