How to Protect Yourself from Ticks and Lyme Disease?

Most individuals love to go outside during spring. However, you must take effective precautions to spend time outdoors this season. Ticks are extremely high during warm weather and it feeds on blood of animals and humans. They transmit lyme diseases to humans through animal bite. So, how do you protect yourself from Lyme disease? Continue reading to know more about Lyme disease prevention. 

Remove a Tick from Your Skin 

You may be at risk of tick bites if you are involved in any outdoor activities. What will you do when you find a tick on your skin? Follow natural remedies for repelling ticks. 

• Remove the tick using a fine-tipped tweezer or tick removal tool
• Gently grip the tick without crushing it and pull it away from your skin
• Apply an antiseptic cream to the affected area after washing with soap or water
• Never use alcohol, lit cigarette end, and petroleum jelly to take out the tick 

Lyme Disease Symptoms 

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans through tick bites/tick-infected animals. Symptoms of Lyme disease appear in patients depending on severity of infection. A few of the symptoms related to Lyme disease are specified below: 

• Pain or numbness in the nerve distribution 
• Red or pink circular rash near the area of the bite
• Severe headaches and tiredness
• Heart problems that cause fainting and lightheadedness. 
• Weakness in the face muscles or joint pain
• Stiff neck, fever, and chills

Lyme Disease Prevention Methods and Strategies

Autumn, late spring, and early summer are the peak time for tick bites. There are different ways to save yourself against ticks. A few of the tick safety precautions are mentioned below. 

Appropriate Clothing 

Wearing long sleeve shirts and pants is uncomfortable to you for a warm-weather hike, but it helps in Lyme disease prevention. You can prefer light-colored clothes instead of dark colors to avoid small ticks from entering your body. 

Use Bug Sprays 

Usage of bug sprays on your clothes and skin is another tick safety precaution. Picardin or deet-based repellant is safer on your skin. Permethrin is the best chemical you can apply to your skin. You must be careful before applying because direct contact with the skin creates itching and irritation. 

Avoid Tick-Friendly Areas

Most ticks live in brushy, grassy, and woody areas. Try to avoid spaces with high grass and stick to lightly wooded areas when you go on a hike. Always walk on the footpath to avoid ticks or other insects enroute. 

Disinfect 

After your adventure, shed all your clothes separately once you reach home. You can put the discarded clothes on high heat for at least 5 to 10 minutes to kill the ticks. Additionally, you can reduce the chance of getting Lyme disease after showering. Later, check the ticks, and scrub yourself. 

Check Your Body for Ticks 

You can conduct a full body check once you return from the tick-infested areas. It is essential to check the body parts like the knees, under the arms, around the waist, hair, and between the legs. 

Many individuals with Lyme disease do not remember getting tick bites or rashes. You must take the necessary steps to avoid tick bites and protect yourself. Consult a healthcare provider to attain essential treatments for ticks and Lyme disease.