Permethrin-Treated Clothing Shows Promise in Preventing Tick Bites, Study Finds

A new study by CDC researchers has found that just a minute or two of contact with permethrin-treated clothing caused ticks to become incapacitated or fall off fabric.

The research examined a variety of permethrin-treated clothing types and fabrics. It revealed that the items can be toxic to several species of ticks and at different stages in their life cycles, potentially keeping them from getting beneath clothing and staying next to skin long enough to bite.

While the CDC research sounds promising, it’s still unclear whether the permethrin-embedded apparel actually prevents bites, says James Dickerson, Ph.D., Consumer Reports’ chief scientific officer.

"The CDC’s study did not test any items while they were being worn, so it doesn’t show conclusively how well the clothes might keep ticks from biting you," Dickerson says.

Sources: CDC and Consumer Reports