Hello and welcome to our June 2025 news! This month we are focusing on how to enjoy being outdoors this summer with the presence of ticks in the mix!
In this issue:
- How to best prevent tick bites
- What does a tick look like?
- What to do if you find a tick on yourself or someone else
Vermont and the High Potential of Running into Ticks
If you are someone who enjoys being outdoors, hiking, camping, biking, etc., you are probably aware of the tick situation in Vermont. Our beautiful state has a high percentage (55%) of ticks that do test positive for carrying tick borne diseases and there are several pathogens that they can carry – Borrelia (Lyme), Rickettsia, Erlichia, Bartonella, Babesia – and they each can have harsh impact on health if not dealt with in an effective way. That said, it is so important to get outside and enjoy the beauty and benefits of being active in nature.
Check out this link for some identifying photos of ticks! (sorry in advance!)
Let’s Talk Prevention
Ticks are most often found in wooded, grassy or brushy areas. They can also make their way into your home if they happen to be on your pets. Another way you might get exposed to ticks is on livestock (cows, horses etc.)
Here are some great tips for preventing getting bit:
Personal Protective Measures
If you know you are going to be in an area where ticks usually inhabit, it can be very helpful if you dress appropriately.
- Wear long sleeves and long pants
- Tuck pants into socks or boots
- Light-colored clothing to spot ticks easily
Using tick repellants is a great idea. Some of them are quite toxic and I prefer advising people to use the more natural repellants. That said, if you are going to be in a high-risk area and choose to use the chemical versions of tick repellants, come in to be seen in our office and we can discuss ways to help you detox from that exposure.
Chemical repellants:
- EPA-registered repellents with DEET, picaridin, IR3535
- Treat clothing and gear with permethrin
Effective natural tick repellants (must say for repelling ticks on the label or mix some up yourself):
Essential oils have natural insect-repellent properties, including against ticks. They can be diluted in carrier oils (like coconut oil) or water and applied to skin or clothes. Some of the most effective oils include:
- Rose Geranium Oil: Studies have shown this oil to be highly effective against ticks, especially Lyme disease-carrying deer ticks.
- Eucalyptus Oil: Known for its ability to repel ticks and mosquitoes.
- Lemon or Lemon Eucalyptus Oil: The CDC recognizes oil of lemon eucalyptus as an effective tick repellent.
- Tea Tree Oil: Works against a variety of pests, including ticks.
- Lavender Oil: Has both calming and tick-repellent properties.
- Peppermint Oil: Repels ticks and other insects due to its strong scent.
How to Use:
- Mix 10–20 drops of essential oil with 1 oz of a carrier oil (such as coconut or olive oil).
- Apply it to exposed skin, clothing, or outdoor gear.
- Can also be mixed with water (20 drops in 1 cup of water) in a spray bottle.
Important Considerations for Natural Repellents
- Dilution: Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil (like coconut oil or olive oil) or water before applying directly to the skin. Essential oils are very potent and can cause skin irritation if not properly diluted.
- Patch Test: Before applying any homemade repellent, do a patch test on a small area of skin to make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction.
- Reapplication: Natural repellents tend to wear off faster than chemical options, so you may need to reapply more frequently, especially after sweating or exposure to water.
- Environmental Use: Some of these oils can be used around your home, garden, or on pets as well. Just be sure to follow the appropriate guidelines for each method.
Tick Checks and Personal Hygiene
- Conduct Full-Body Checks
- Especially underarms, behind ears, belly button, back of knees, in and around hair
- Shower After Outdoor Activity
- Within 2 hours of coming indoors
- Helps remove unattached ticks
- Examine Gear and Pets
- Ticks can hitchhike on clothes and animals
- Toss the clothes you wore in the dryer when you come in,
Tick Removal
- Use Fine-Tipped Tweezers
- Grasp tick close to skin and pull upward with steady pressure
- Clean Bite Area – if you happen to pull a tick off of yourself, there does not have to be the bulls eye rash that everyone talks about for you to follow this advice. Ticks can be infective even if there is no rash.
- Use soap and water or rubbing alcohol
- Apply liquid Astragalus to the bite and let it dry. Once dry cover with bentonite clay paste and leave on for 1-2 hours (repeat this 2x/day for 3 days)
- Monitor for Symptoms
- Rash, fever, joint pain – seek medical attention if symptoms develop
- Come in to see us so we can test over the bite and give you personalized protocols for dealing with the situation
Okay! Now that we have covered the different ways to stay safe (and maybe creeped you out with some photos), please feel free to give us a call if you should need any further information or support. And most of all, get outside and enjoy the benefits of being in nature!
Until next time, stay well and have a great summer!
Dr. Suzy
