Sprays

• DEET, or N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, is a chemical compound that repels insects, including ticks. It is on average about 50 percent effective on ticks. Permethrin sprays contain a synthetic pyrethroid pesticide that kills ticks on contact, providing nearly 100 percent protection against ticks.
  
  

Applications

• Tick repellents containing DEET can be sprayed onto your skin to protect you from tick bites. Permethrin sprays cannot be applied to skin. Instead, spray them onto clothing you plan to wear, along with tents, sleeping bags and other materials. Once it dries, it will kill any ticks that come in contact with the treated materials.
  
  

Considerations

• DEET can cause allergic skin reactions and is not recommended for use on very young children. It should not be worn for long periods of time. Permethrin sprays linger in fabric after application and can provide protection against ticks even after several washings.