Natural tick repellents – what are they?
Ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, and other pests believe it’s feasting time whenever they see us and our beloved pets. These daring scavengers start dining as soon as they can make contact. Some insects bite, do their thing and leave, while others, like the tick, find a favorable spot and try to start a colony.
It’s easy for humans to spot a leeching tick and pull it out. But our pets tend to be more accommodating and end up bringing these insects home with them.
This is where natural tick repellents come in. They offer protection against tick infestation and prevent you from getting infected by a tick-borne disease. There are products that claim to be natural tick killers but they contain strong chemicals that might not be safe for kids or even adults. This is why many people go for natural tick repellent for humans. These types are safe for users as well as the environment.
How do these natural tick sprays work?
Some of the best natural tick repellents come in natural tick sprays and some are presented as an essential oil tick repellent. They all basically work the same way. You just have to apply it to the skin and watch those nuisances avoid you like the plague.
They are made with organic ingredients that contain substances that ticks and other insects cannot stand. So, while the natural tick repellent is on your body, ticks will keep away. And if they can’t perch on your skin, they can’t suck your blood and infect you with the diseases they carry.
What ingredients are they made of?
Nature has been quite generous to us humans. There are a lot of plants in nature that naturally have defenses against intruders. These defense systems help keep destructive pests away. It is in that same vein humans have devised means of keeping insects away from our bodies.
Some of the natural ingredients in our list of organic tick repellents are lemon eucalyptus oil, cinnamon, cedar, peppermint, rosemary, and others. These active ingredients are often mixed with other substances to make them last longer, smell better, and even nourish the skin.
Different tick repellent types
Like many other products, there are different types of tick repellents. But since we’re talking about natural repellents in this article, we will limit the types to tick repellents to natural ones.
Ticks afflict our beloved pets more than they do humans. Those pesky little insects seem to know that they can hide longer on animals than on humans. That’s why there are natural tick repellents for humans. As well as repellents that are more suited to dogs, cats, and any other pet you might have.
As we noted earlier, these natural tick controls come in containers you can spray on or as oils you can rub on the skin. The types suitable for animals are sometimes even made in the form of a shampoo. And there are even repellents that can be used both by humans and applied on pets.
What to consider when choosing which tick repellent to buy
Another thing to consider is the active ingredients that the repellent contain. It just might happen that you are allergic to one of the ingredients that your all-natural tick repellent is made of.
Remember!
Read the label of the tick repellent you're thinking of buying thoroughly and check if it doesn't contain any ingredients that you're allergic to. You don’t want the fear of ticks to cause skin irritation, or worse yet, to land you in a hospital.
Not all of these repellents are suitable for kids of certain ages, this is another reason to pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions. It’s best that you go for a natural tick repellent that’s specifically made for kids if you are getting one for your little ones.
You can also consider the application method that suits your preferences. Would you prefer a natural tick spray or those essential oil insect repellents that you have to rub on your skin as a lotion? The choice is yours!
The dos and don’ts of natural tick repellent
It is great to use natural products as opposed to their synthetic counterparts. However, the fact that a tick repellent is natural is not enough for you to automatically consider it the better option. Some so-called natural tick repellents do make false claims.
Some would claim to ward off ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes but in reality, they are only potent enough for ticks. So, on your next camping trip, you would notice that ticks are kept at bay but you are still not having fun because mosquitoes and fleas are having a feast.
Therefore it is best to go for a tick repellent that is known to ward off more than just ticks. One that will also be efficient against other common pests like mosquitoes, flies, etc.
Like we noted earlier, be sure to read through the manufacturer’s instructions. There are some natural tick repellents that are not advisable to use on the parts of your skin that would get covered by clothing.
Another common misconception about natural tick repellents is that you can apply it as much as you want. After all, it only makes sense to think that the more you apply, the more effective the repellent will be. This is rarely true with a natural tick repellent. All you need do is apply enough to cover the exposed parts of your skin. Look at it this way, if your happens to be irritated by the product, using less will be easier on you and your skin.
Finally, if you are using the spray-type repellent, it is better not to spray it directly on the face. First, spray the repellent on your palms, and only then rub in onto your face. Also avoid it getting into your ears, mouth, nose, or the eyes. As that can cause irritation and unpleasant sensations.