Permethrin-Treated Clothing for Tick Protection
Permethrin-treated clothing is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from ticks and reduce the risk of tick-borne disease. As more individuals venture outdoors during warmer weather, concerns about tick exposure increase.
Researchers have examined not only the effectiveness of tick repellents and protective clothing but also the behaviors of individuals most likely to encounter ticks.
Tick Prevention Behaviors Among Hikers
Researchers in Indiana studied protective behaviors among recreational hikers. Surprisingly, they found that only:
- 9.5% of hikers used tick repellent
- 3.4% wore protective clothing
- Only two individuals reported showering after recreation and checking for ticks
These findings suggest that many outdoor enthusiasts do not use simple strategies that could reduce tick exposure.
Permethrin-Treated Clothing and Tick Bite Risk
Several studies have evaluated the effectiveness of permethrin-treated clothing in preventing tick bites.
Sullivan and colleagues recruited state and county park employees in North Carolina to wear long-lasting permethrin-impregnated clothing.
The study found that the clothing retained permethrin and remained biologically active against ticks even after three months of real-world use.
A study in Rhode Island examined permethrin-treated footwear and found that individuals wearing treated socks and sneakers were dramatically less likely to experience tick bites.
Researchers found that people wearing permethrin-treated socks and sneakers were 73.6 times less likely to have a tick bite than those wearing untreated footwear.
How Ticks React to Permethrin
Another study examined tick behavior when exposed to permethrin-treated textiles using a laboratory model designed to mimic pant legs or sleeves.
Unlike DEET, permethrin does not primarily act as a spatial repellent. Instead, ticks often walk onto treated fabrics but quickly become irritated after contact.
Ticks exposed to permethrin-treated clothing displayed a “hot-foot” effect and quickly dislodged themselves from the fabric.
Laboratory-reared ticks became visibly agitated and tumbled off the treated textile. Within 1 to 24 hours after exposure, most ticks showed little or no movement.
Field-collected ticks were somewhat more resilient, possibly due to adaptation to variable environmental conditions. However, even these ticks showed significant impairment following contact.
Permethrin Compared With DEET
Researchers from the CDC’s Division of Vector-Borne Diseases compared permethrin-treated fabrics with DEET-treated textiles.
They found that ticks approaching DEET-treated materials rarely made contact with the fabric, suggesting that DEET functions primarily as a repellent.
Permethrin-treated fabrics worked differently: ticks frequently made contact but became incapacitated shortly afterward.
After exposure, most ticks were unable to move normally, reducing their ability to attach and bite.
Limitations of Ultrasonic Tick Repellents
Investigators in Australia studied ultrasonic pest repellent devices against the Australian paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus).
They found that more than 80% of ticks were not repelled by the device, indicating that ultrasonic repellents provide insufficient protection from tick bites.
Safety Considerations
Permethrin can be toxic in high doses. According to the National Research Council review of permethrin exposure from military uniforms, acute toxicity can affect the central nervous system.
Symptoms of high-dose toxicity may include:
- Incoordination
- Ataxia
- Hyperactivity
- Convulsions
- Paralysis
Permethrin should not be inhaled while treating clothing and should never be applied directly to the skin.
Article Updated: June 1, 2021
For a broader look at strategies to reduce tick exposure and prevent Lyme disease, see Preventing Chronic Lyme Disease: Why Early Care Matters.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
Very helpful research article that clarifies how permethrin works. Given this, and that on the one hand permethrin kills ticks better than does Deet… given that the ticks can crawl up under the treated clothes, do you recommend Permethrin treated sneakers and clothes or DEET? And, for women (or men) needing to be in sandles or leather/synthetic material shoes while on the grass (e.g., outdoor parties), do you think Permethrin has any effect sprayed on a hard sole sandle, unlike the material of sneakers? Was faced with this dilemma this past weekend! A 6-hr lawn party… Yikes! Thank you!
It took up to 10 seconds for the permethin impregnated cloth to cause the tick to drop off. The tick would appear to do well if it could contact skin in less than 10 seconds. It is also not clear if the permethrin protection would hold up after washing cloths. I am not convinced that ticks would stay on a sandals long enough to fall off when the skin is there.
Permethrin kills ticks deet does not.
Treat clothing with Permethrin and exposed skin with deet as a repellent.
Studies show deet is still the best as a repellent, Picaridin second to deet and dies not soak into your skin as deet does.
Picaridin can also be used in clothing.
Better yet wear snug fitting treated clothing or with elastic bands to keep them from crawling up and under.
Permethrin also looses it’s quality as days and washing pass especially if exposed to harsh sun.
I’ve started asking party hosts if they have treated their property…
If wearing a dress or skirt a snug pair of exercise short that have been treated under for some added protection, but the best is to do tick checks often. The longer they are in the more chance of contracting one of the tbd’s.So when you’re at a lawn party, do your tick check every time you use the rest room.
Enjoy your summer!
Avid Northern NH hiker here. We’ve been treating our clothing with permithrin for the past 2 years and have been very happy with the results. We also treat our dog with Vectra 3D which also contains permethrin and other chemicals. Also successful. Please be advised, it is extremely toxic to cats.
Permethrin is a derivative of oil of the chrysanthemum flower. The NRC statement on the toxicity of permethrin (1994) is woefully out of date. The EPA summary of evidence (2009 https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/repellent-treated-clothing ) concludes when used as directed it is safe for children and pregnant mothers. All 5 major species of ticks in the US are disabled or dead within 30 seconds. Armies around the world using permethrin-treated uniforms and DEET have eliminated 99% of tick-borne diseases, including Lyme.
Adult ticks can more amazingly fast. If they are hungry I’ve seen them run across permethrin treated clothing for 4-6″, towards skin, before I stopped them. You have to be covered head to toe with tight closures at wrists, ankles, and neck to stop them and then they’ll be on your head. The only guarantee of no tick bites is a hazmat suit so I recommend having the best known herbs for treating Lyme (Cat’s Claw, Otoba bark, Cystus incanus, cryptolepsis, Andrographis, etc) on hand and using one of them daily if the ground isn’t covered with snow and Cat’s Claw/Otoba for 10days after every bite. This has worked for myself and my dog for 5 years. My dog tested positive for Anaplasmosis but never had symptoms and I haven’t tested positive for Lyme despite getting bitten by ticks that have tested positive. Be safe!
Thank you for the helpful article, I’ve been searching for info on Permethrin and this is helpful. Something I’ve been pondering is whether doing a tick drag with a permethrin treated cloth in an enclosed yard would work as a method to lower tick numbers? Wondering if ticks would still grab onto the fabric if it was treated, and remain on there long enough to kill them. If so might it be a worthwhile technique to try, if it was repeated weekly during tick season might it lower numbers enough to make a difference? Thoughts?