How to Choose the Best Tick Repellent: Practical Tips

Which active ingredients are more effective?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using only repellents that are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Check the packaging for the EPA registration number and look for a graphic showing the repellent's effectiveness, which indicates how long it will last after application.

The repellent must contain approved active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, p-menthane diol, or 2-undecanone. However, the CDC warns that "oil of lemon eucalyptus and some p-menthane diol products should not be used in children under 3 years of age." Always read labels carefully for safety information.

Continue reading to learn more about choosing the best tick repellent, written by Lyudmila Zaglada.

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Add an extra layer of protection to your clothing, shoes and gear with this unscented and editor-chosen permethrin spray by Sawyer that bonds to fabric fibers and repels ticks and 55 other insects, including mosquitoes.

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This Sawyer repellent won a SELF Outdoor Award in 2022.

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The only line of defense between me and a veritable galaxy of painful mosquito bites was the humble $11 bug repellent I almost left at home.

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